Kitsuki hadn't visited her parents in quite some time. She had been busy running the country and they had been busy running their financial empire. Despite being the head of state, she had recused herself from all affairs involving the family business. The Kurahasa were a powerful merchant clan and though they had not been known for producing shinobi, they were rapidly approaching Hozuki Clan status in terms of wealth and influence in the shipping industry. Her father always said that she had taken the principles he had taught her and made them her own, but they both knew she was more a creature of the WASP than his own creation. Either way, both her mother and father were proud of her and they didn't press her for her time. They knew when she needed them, she'd always return to her childhood home and they'd be waiting for her. Whether it be a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen to her woes, Kitsuki's parents were always willing to make the time.
Kitsuki walked up to the manor and rapped lightly on the frame. She couldn't have waited for more than five seconds before the family butler answered the door. Otto flinched when he saw the young girl that he had helped raise, standing before him. The posh butler was normally the model of restraint and decorum but the sight of Kit had startled him.
"Young Madame, er, Mis-, uh Princess Kurahasa" the large well-suited man bowed before standing aside. Kit smiled and walked through the door. She reached out and touched his shoulder. "You don't have to be so formal around me Otto." "Nonsense Princess....protocol is protocol. Regardless of the fact that I changed your diapers...you are our Head of State and will be treated as such" The comment and the twinkle in his eye told her that while he'd be waiting on her hand and foot, he couldn't help but take her a smidgen less seriously. Kit grinned and lightly punched his shoulder.
She wouldn't have it any other way.
"Your mother is in the kitchen. She had a feeling you'd be swinging by. I beleive she is making your favorite afternoon snack. She wouldn't allow me the privledge. I will fetch your father. He is out fishing."
Kitsuki walked into the kitchen and sure enough her mother was there. A platter of fresh fish and chips sat cooling on the marble counter and a knowing smile on her lips. Kitsuki walked up to her mother and embraced her warmly. The woman was about the same height as she was but whereas Kit wore her hair in afro style, her mother wore it long and flowing. When they broke the hug, Kit raised an eyebrow in confusion. It was rather odd that her mother had known of her arrival and had prepared such a delicious repast. Her hand reached out to snag a piping hot piece of fish.
"How did you know I was coming?"
"You think shinobi are the only ones capable of spying?"
"Mom!"
"Only kidding...." the older woman said with a grin and a wink that indicated the opposite.
They laughed and enjoyed each other's company for a bit. Her mother filled her in on the basic details of how things were going with the family business. They had been worried about her falling to the plague so many times in the recent years, but the doctors had done a good job assuring them that her legendary constitution made death all but impossible. After the consultations, Kit's parents were confident she would return. It was just a matter of when not if. Still, a part of Kit felt guilty for slipping into a coma. Katsumi had succumbed to the plague before but it hadn't stopped her for long. Kit still missed her older sister and she spent some time reminiscing about the past with her mother. It felt good to try and remember the good times even if they were long behind them. The pair shared the afternoon snack and were almost done with the platter when Kit's father entered the kitchen.
"Hail! The conquering hero returns!"
Kit ran to her father and threw her arms around him. By this point, the Princess knew her own strength and was careful not to crush her beloved Papa.
"Dad I told you...I'm no conqueror." Kit said stepping back. She scratched the back of her neck and looked to the side. They had spoken at length about her coup in the past. Kit's mother and father never challenged their daughter's political decisions, but they worried quite a bit. Kit felt obligated to alleviate their concerns but she could always sense that the dynamic between them had changed. She was no longer the shy quiet girl that lived in her older sister's shadow. She was a war veteran, socialite and political power center rolled into one.
"I believe you don't want to be my dear. But alas, we are what our decisions make us. What can we do for you?"
Kit crossed her arms and looked to her mother for support.
"What? I can't come home to see my own mother and father?"
"The only time you come to see us is when you need advice or want to complain. Even my cooking doesn't bring you back as often as it used to." Her mother said.
"She's right. You have gourmet chefs now I'm told."
"That's not true..." Kit protested. She grabbed a piece of fried fish and a potato chip, inhaled and took a bite. The saltiness of the fish and a hint of thyme coated her tongue as she savored the bite. No cook could come close. "There's some things that money and power can never re-create."
"Stop flattering me already and talk to your father....we're glad you're back, healthy and safe. Especially after the Bijuu attack but I can see the worry in your eyes." She put a hand on Kit's shoulder and gestured to the plate of fish and chips. "There will always be more where that came from but your father is the one you should talk politics with. Otto and I will put together a care package for you. You and him have a chat" her mother said before giving her daughter a kiss on the cheek and departing the area.
"Okay kiddo!" the older man said as he pulled up a chair and offered Kit a seat. "What's on your mind?"
Kit sighed knowing that there was no sense arguing with her parents. They knew when something was bothering her and it was useless trying to deny it. Kitsuki took a seat at the kitchen table and proceeded to give a full accounting of the challenges she faced as a Princess. She talked about how her relationship with Arisu was fraying and how they could not come to an accord on the Rinnegan Question, she spoke about the potential for interdimensional warfare, a closely guarded national security secret that had been causing her undue stress even while unconscious, she went into detail about the detioriating world order, how Kiri and Konoha's status as the sole superpowers could cause tension, she confided in her father about how she felt somehow responsible for the massacre in Sunagakure, how she had given Sayuri power and prestige only for the blonde to use it against the village's interests. Kit's father asked a question or two here and there, but mostly he remained silent and listened. He offered advice on many key areas. He wasn't a war-master nor was he a politician, but he was a savvy businessman and he understood the geopolitical implications of each issue that she faced. While she had dozens of advisors and analysts, it felt good to talk to someone with more practical experience. Someone who knew her moral compass, her flaws, and strengths and could tailor advice to who she was as a person. It was a productive and healthy discussion but what shocked her the most was her father's advice concerning a certain Ōtsutsuki.
"Wait....so let me get this straight" He said massaging his temples. "This Ōtsutsuki Princess...she's been with Kiri for nearly a decade now. She's fought alongside you in multiple wars, was kidnapped and tortured in the line of duty only to come back and continue fighting for humanity.....she even backed you in the co-, er.....power transition and you've threatened to kill her twice?"
"Dad!" Kitsuki admonished him. He made her sound like some kind of ungrateful monster.
"I know, I know. The Rinnegan is an existential threat to humanity and countless worlds. I heard you the first time but have you considered that you may be the one in the wrong here?"
"Its not that simple."
"It never is. Which is why you must consider it from her perspective. She's already told you that she's afraid of what we humans can do. She's told you that all she's ever known was training to be the leader of this planet. She told you that she doesn't have any friends here except you. You need to stop seeing this as a question of politics and more of a question of relationships."
"You don't know the shinobi arts like I do Dad. The things I've seen her do with one Path, no ninja should be able to do. With three? She's probably stronger than me and the rest of Kiri combined. With all the Paths and the Bijuu? She'd be unstoppable."
Her father rubbed his chin in thought. He reached for his pipe and began to fill it with tobacco. It was one unhealthy habit she had picked up from him despite his best efforts. Once the pipe was filled and lit, he inhaled deeply and blew a ring towards the open window.
"This reminds me of a similar problem I had on the seas...."
"Every problem reminds you of the seas...."
"All the more reason for you to listen. It makes up the majority of our world so its lessons have universal applicability. Anyways, as I was saying...there was a rival merchant that had earned my enmity in the 920s....His fleet was large and his wealth and influence even more terrifying. I had scratched out a lucrative trade on the southwestern islands and for awhile we were equals. I noticed, however, that he was growing at a rapid rate. I knew that if he continued to accumulate ships and win contacts that I'd be at his mercy. He wasn't a bad fellow just a better merchant and one that was born into greater privilege than even I was."
"What did you do?" Kit asked. She knew that her father wasn't nearly as pure-hearted as her dear Headmaster. While her dad agreed with the principles of the S.S. WASP, she was not naive enough to believe that he adhered to them wholeheartedly. The Kurahasa Merchant Clan had employed spies, assassins and saboteurs to protect their assets or expand their holdings. And while they've calmed down under her leadership of the country, she knew that this was only a recent shift. In the days of the Hozuki Clan's hegemony, a weak willed merchant was as good as dead one both financially and literally.
"I befriended him. Just as you want to and just as Arisu is trying to. Kaizal is a-"
"Uncle Kaizal?!" Kit exclaimed.
"Uncle Kaizal." He confirmed.
Kitsuki had known Uncle Kaizal since she was a baby. She had only been a pre-teen when she learned that the man and her father weren't actually brothers. She had practically grown up thinking of him as a family member and she was shocked to learn that he had actually been a bitter rival of her father's previously.
"I know what you are going through with Arisu because I've gone through much the same. Kaizal and I were on the verge of a naval war before I brought him to this very manor to break bread and share drinks. We couldn't come to an agreement right away sure, but we met here every week for fish and cold sake. We began trading amongst each other, working together closely to win contracts and we grew faster as a team than we did competing. Nowadays...we hardly keep score. Last few decades he had outpaced me but as of this decade I've outpaced him. We were never a threat to each other's business. The true enemy were our own egos." Her father explained.
"We have a natural tendency to both fear and admire those who threaten our power. Arisu is proximate to you and so you have a competing desire to either destroy her or make her your ally. I suspect that either Arisu fears you more or she truly loathes the idea of destroying you, otherwise she would not be as persistent in seeking your friendship. I wish I could give you a clear answer on how to resolve this Rinnegan conundrum of yours....I really do....but all this stuff about divinities and wars are far above what I know. You received the best education money can buy and we've come to trust your judgment as I'm sure Kat would...but promise me this, promise me that you will at least try peace before you reach for your bow."
Kitsuki stared at her hands. She was not proud of what she had done to Hana, even if she told herself it was necessary. Since then, she had worked hard to ensure that such bloodshed would never need to happen again.
"I-I promise." She said. She had offered Arisu friendship during the Matatabi crisis and hearing her father's words only solidified her conviction. It was time to set aside threats and start working towards an amicable future. She sighed and nodded before reaching into her jacket pocket. Her father stopped her and shook his head. "Not in my house little Lady. You're still my youngest daughter." He said with a grin. Kit smiled back and withdrew her hand. She could smoke anywhere she pleased normally but sometimes it was good to be humbled.
"This does bring me to another subject, Kit...your mother and I are concerned. When's the last time you've had fun?"
Kitsuki tilted her head at her father's question. She hadn't ever went down this line of conversation with them before. She hadn't gone down this line of conversation with anyone since the WASP. Some of the girls at the institution had thrown parties, but she had never been invited and even when she had, she never wanted to go. Kit's Dad could see the confusion in her eyes and he laughed to himself.
"There was a time when you and your sister would sneak out every night for one party or another. It got so bad we had to send you two to boarding school."
"That was never me...." Kit said blushing. "I only snuck out because Kat did."
"Maybe Kat's idea of fun isn't your own but I know you still remember how to have fun. This job...this title...the War...it deprived you in ways your mother and I couldn't ever have imagined."
"You wanted me to grow up. To become a mature Lady of high society. That's what this looks like."
"We wanted you to mature but we didn't want you to lose the joy that comes with living. Otherwise what are you fighting to protect?"
"For the right of others to enjoy life."
"You can't do that unless you remember what that's like. It'll become too theoretical. Too abstract. I say this from experience Kitsuki, don't lose your love for living. Go out there and have some damn fun. Take Arisu with you and maybe you two will find you have more in common than you expected."
"Dad..."
"That's an order young Lady. You may be Princess of the Kiri Empire but you'll always be a ward of House Kurahasa and I'm telling you that you need to take some time off. I hear the Chuunin Exams are to be quite spectacular this year and many members of high society will flock to attend. If you must work then do so over drinks and games. You need to bind your allies closer to you and you'll need more than training regimens and meetings. You'll have to make them like you and you'll have to make them remember that this is all worth fighting for."
Kitsuki sat in her chair and looked at her father. He could be stern when he wanted to, but she could always see the concern and care in his face. The hard-nosed negotiator had a soft spot for his daughters and if he was telling Kit to take a vacation then he must really have meant it. She wondered if he had used his army of industrial spies to check up on her. She was tempted to ask but she also didn't want to implicate her own father. The two must have shared the same thought and the awkward silence was followed by laughter. What was understood didn't need to be said.
"Well...if you insist can I at least borrow the family yacht?"
"Nope!"
"What?! You just sa-"
"I recall my daughter saying that she wanted to be independent from the family fortune? Besides, I have my own plans for the yacht. Your mother and I like to have fun too you know!"
"But Daaaaaad" Kit said drawing out the word. "The Kiri fleet is for war not fun!"
"Then build one with your own money or better yet, make some friends and use theirs"
"I do-"
The man smirked and raised an eyebrow. This was exactly his point. He didn't want her relying on him to bail her out on this. She needed to go out and find some likeminded youth. He missed the old Kit and Kat. He wants us to throw a party without him knowing about it and he wants to clear his conscience by me not using the family yacht. Kitsuki took his meaning immediately and smiled.
"Whatever, Dad. I have to go..."
"Oh I'm sure you do! But at least I've given you a lot to think about."
"That's what I come here for...that and of course the fish and chips" Kit said with a wink.
Kitsuki and her father would stand and say their goodbyes. Before Kit departed from Manor Kurahasa she would receive a care package from her mother and Otto. It contained a lot of her favorite snacks, fruit, perfumes, gifts and assorted knick-knacks that she'd appreciate. The Princess could get the items from anywhere but it felt good to get it from those who loved her most. Kitsuki's father had given her sage advice and she intended to put it into practice. Even his odd request for her to have fun. It was a foreign ask from a man that had lost hair over his wild and out of control daughters. Kit decided that she'd make her beloved Dad regret it. It was no fun if he told her how to have fun. And it certainly wouldn't be the kind of fun she had with Kat if he approved of it. No, she'd need this to be her own thing. Free of her father's influence and expectations. Get my own yacht then? Fine. My yacht, my party, my rules.
[Exit]
Kitsuki walked up to the manor and rapped lightly on the frame. She couldn't have waited for more than five seconds before the family butler answered the door. Otto flinched when he saw the young girl that he had helped raise, standing before him. The posh butler was normally the model of restraint and decorum but the sight of Kit had startled him.
"Young Madame, er, Mis-, uh Princess Kurahasa" the large well-suited man bowed before standing aside. Kit smiled and walked through the door. She reached out and touched his shoulder. "You don't have to be so formal around me Otto." "Nonsense Princess....protocol is protocol. Regardless of the fact that I changed your diapers...you are our Head of State and will be treated as such" The comment and the twinkle in his eye told her that while he'd be waiting on her hand and foot, he couldn't help but take her a smidgen less seriously. Kit grinned and lightly punched his shoulder.
She wouldn't have it any other way.
"Your mother is in the kitchen. She had a feeling you'd be swinging by. I beleive she is making your favorite afternoon snack. She wouldn't allow me the privledge. I will fetch your father. He is out fishing."
Kitsuki walked into the kitchen and sure enough her mother was there. A platter of fresh fish and chips sat cooling on the marble counter and a knowing smile on her lips. Kitsuki walked up to her mother and embraced her warmly. The woman was about the same height as she was but whereas Kit wore her hair in afro style, her mother wore it long and flowing. When they broke the hug, Kit raised an eyebrow in confusion. It was rather odd that her mother had known of her arrival and had prepared such a delicious repast. Her hand reached out to snag a piping hot piece of fish.
"How did you know I was coming?"
"You think shinobi are the only ones capable of spying?"
"Mom!"
"Only kidding...." the older woman said with a grin and a wink that indicated the opposite.
They laughed and enjoyed each other's company for a bit. Her mother filled her in on the basic details of how things were going with the family business. They had been worried about her falling to the plague so many times in the recent years, but the doctors had done a good job assuring them that her legendary constitution made death all but impossible. After the consultations, Kit's parents were confident she would return. It was just a matter of when not if. Still, a part of Kit felt guilty for slipping into a coma. Katsumi had succumbed to the plague before but it hadn't stopped her for long. Kit still missed her older sister and she spent some time reminiscing about the past with her mother. It felt good to try and remember the good times even if they were long behind them. The pair shared the afternoon snack and were almost done with the platter when Kit's father entered the kitchen.
"Hail! The conquering hero returns!"
Kit ran to her father and threw her arms around him. By this point, the Princess knew her own strength and was careful not to crush her beloved Papa.
"Dad I told you...I'm no conqueror." Kit said stepping back. She scratched the back of her neck and looked to the side. They had spoken at length about her coup in the past. Kit's mother and father never challenged their daughter's political decisions, but they worried quite a bit. Kit felt obligated to alleviate their concerns but she could always sense that the dynamic between them had changed. She was no longer the shy quiet girl that lived in her older sister's shadow. She was a war veteran, socialite and political power center rolled into one.
"I believe you don't want to be my dear. But alas, we are what our decisions make us. What can we do for you?"
Kit crossed her arms and looked to her mother for support.
"What? I can't come home to see my own mother and father?"
"The only time you come to see us is when you need advice or want to complain. Even my cooking doesn't bring you back as often as it used to." Her mother said.
"She's right. You have gourmet chefs now I'm told."
"That's not true..." Kit protested. She grabbed a piece of fried fish and a potato chip, inhaled and took a bite. The saltiness of the fish and a hint of thyme coated her tongue as she savored the bite. No cook could come close. "There's some things that money and power can never re-create."
"Stop flattering me already and talk to your father....we're glad you're back, healthy and safe. Especially after the Bijuu attack but I can see the worry in your eyes." She put a hand on Kit's shoulder and gestured to the plate of fish and chips. "There will always be more where that came from but your father is the one you should talk politics with. Otto and I will put together a care package for you. You and him have a chat" her mother said before giving her daughter a kiss on the cheek and departing the area.
"Okay kiddo!" the older man said as he pulled up a chair and offered Kit a seat. "What's on your mind?"
Kit sighed knowing that there was no sense arguing with her parents. They knew when something was bothering her and it was useless trying to deny it. Kitsuki took a seat at the kitchen table and proceeded to give a full accounting of the challenges she faced as a Princess. She talked about how her relationship with Arisu was fraying and how they could not come to an accord on the Rinnegan Question, she spoke about the potential for interdimensional warfare, a closely guarded national security secret that had been causing her undue stress even while unconscious, she went into detail about the detioriating world order, how Kiri and Konoha's status as the sole superpowers could cause tension, she confided in her father about how she felt somehow responsible for the massacre in Sunagakure, how she had given Sayuri power and prestige only for the blonde to use it against the village's interests. Kit's father asked a question or two here and there, but mostly he remained silent and listened. He offered advice on many key areas. He wasn't a war-master nor was he a politician, but he was a savvy businessman and he understood the geopolitical implications of each issue that she faced. While she had dozens of advisors and analysts, it felt good to talk to someone with more practical experience. Someone who knew her moral compass, her flaws, and strengths and could tailor advice to who she was as a person. It was a productive and healthy discussion but what shocked her the most was her father's advice concerning a certain Ōtsutsuki.
"Wait....so let me get this straight" He said massaging his temples. "This Ōtsutsuki Princess...she's been with Kiri for nearly a decade now. She's fought alongside you in multiple wars, was kidnapped and tortured in the line of duty only to come back and continue fighting for humanity.....she even backed you in the co-, er.....power transition and you've threatened to kill her twice?"
"Dad!" Kitsuki admonished him. He made her sound like some kind of ungrateful monster.
"I know, I know. The Rinnegan is an existential threat to humanity and countless worlds. I heard you the first time but have you considered that you may be the one in the wrong here?"
"Its not that simple."
"It never is. Which is why you must consider it from her perspective. She's already told you that she's afraid of what we humans can do. She's told you that all she's ever known was training to be the leader of this planet. She told you that she doesn't have any friends here except you. You need to stop seeing this as a question of politics and more of a question of relationships."
"You don't know the shinobi arts like I do Dad. The things I've seen her do with one Path, no ninja should be able to do. With three? She's probably stronger than me and the rest of Kiri combined. With all the Paths and the Bijuu? She'd be unstoppable."
Her father rubbed his chin in thought. He reached for his pipe and began to fill it with tobacco. It was one unhealthy habit she had picked up from him despite his best efforts. Once the pipe was filled and lit, he inhaled deeply and blew a ring towards the open window.
"This reminds me of a similar problem I had on the seas...."
"Every problem reminds you of the seas...."
"All the more reason for you to listen. It makes up the majority of our world so its lessons have universal applicability. Anyways, as I was saying...there was a rival merchant that had earned my enmity in the 920s....His fleet was large and his wealth and influence even more terrifying. I had scratched out a lucrative trade on the southwestern islands and for awhile we were equals. I noticed, however, that he was growing at a rapid rate. I knew that if he continued to accumulate ships and win contacts that I'd be at his mercy. He wasn't a bad fellow just a better merchant and one that was born into greater privilege than even I was."
"What did you do?" Kit asked. She knew that her father wasn't nearly as pure-hearted as her dear Headmaster. While her dad agreed with the principles of the S.S. WASP, she was not naive enough to believe that he adhered to them wholeheartedly. The Kurahasa Merchant Clan had employed spies, assassins and saboteurs to protect their assets or expand their holdings. And while they've calmed down under her leadership of the country, she knew that this was only a recent shift. In the days of the Hozuki Clan's hegemony, a weak willed merchant was as good as dead one both financially and literally.
"I befriended him. Just as you want to and just as Arisu is trying to. Kaizal is a-"
"Uncle Kaizal?!" Kit exclaimed.
"Uncle Kaizal." He confirmed.
Kitsuki had known Uncle Kaizal since she was a baby. She had only been a pre-teen when she learned that the man and her father weren't actually brothers. She had practically grown up thinking of him as a family member and she was shocked to learn that he had actually been a bitter rival of her father's previously.
"I know what you are going through with Arisu because I've gone through much the same. Kaizal and I were on the verge of a naval war before I brought him to this very manor to break bread and share drinks. We couldn't come to an agreement right away sure, but we met here every week for fish and cold sake. We began trading amongst each other, working together closely to win contracts and we grew faster as a team than we did competing. Nowadays...we hardly keep score. Last few decades he had outpaced me but as of this decade I've outpaced him. We were never a threat to each other's business. The true enemy were our own egos." Her father explained.
"We have a natural tendency to both fear and admire those who threaten our power. Arisu is proximate to you and so you have a competing desire to either destroy her or make her your ally. I suspect that either Arisu fears you more or she truly loathes the idea of destroying you, otherwise she would not be as persistent in seeking your friendship. I wish I could give you a clear answer on how to resolve this Rinnegan conundrum of yours....I really do....but all this stuff about divinities and wars are far above what I know. You received the best education money can buy and we've come to trust your judgment as I'm sure Kat would...but promise me this, promise me that you will at least try peace before you reach for your bow."
Kitsuki stared at her hands. She was not proud of what she had done to Hana, even if she told herself it was necessary. Since then, she had worked hard to ensure that such bloodshed would never need to happen again.
"I-I promise." She said. She had offered Arisu friendship during the Matatabi crisis and hearing her father's words only solidified her conviction. It was time to set aside threats and start working towards an amicable future. She sighed and nodded before reaching into her jacket pocket. Her father stopped her and shook his head. "Not in my house little Lady. You're still my youngest daughter." He said with a grin. Kit smiled back and withdrew her hand. She could smoke anywhere she pleased normally but sometimes it was good to be humbled.
"This does bring me to another subject, Kit...your mother and I are concerned. When's the last time you've had fun?"
Kitsuki tilted her head at her father's question. She hadn't ever went down this line of conversation with them before. She hadn't gone down this line of conversation with anyone since the WASP. Some of the girls at the institution had thrown parties, but she had never been invited and even when she had, she never wanted to go. Kit's Dad could see the confusion in her eyes and he laughed to himself.
"There was a time when you and your sister would sneak out every night for one party or another. It got so bad we had to send you two to boarding school."
"That was never me...." Kit said blushing. "I only snuck out because Kat did."
"Maybe Kat's idea of fun isn't your own but I know you still remember how to have fun. This job...this title...the War...it deprived you in ways your mother and I couldn't ever have imagined."
"You wanted me to grow up. To become a mature Lady of high society. That's what this looks like."
"We wanted you to mature but we didn't want you to lose the joy that comes with living. Otherwise what are you fighting to protect?"
"For the right of others to enjoy life."
"You can't do that unless you remember what that's like. It'll become too theoretical. Too abstract. I say this from experience Kitsuki, don't lose your love for living. Go out there and have some damn fun. Take Arisu with you and maybe you two will find you have more in common than you expected."
"Dad..."
"That's an order young Lady. You may be Princess of the Kiri Empire but you'll always be a ward of House Kurahasa and I'm telling you that you need to take some time off. I hear the Chuunin Exams are to be quite spectacular this year and many members of high society will flock to attend. If you must work then do so over drinks and games. You need to bind your allies closer to you and you'll need more than training regimens and meetings. You'll have to make them like you and you'll have to make them remember that this is all worth fighting for."
Kitsuki sat in her chair and looked at her father. He could be stern when he wanted to, but she could always see the concern and care in his face. The hard-nosed negotiator had a soft spot for his daughters and if he was telling Kit to take a vacation then he must really have meant it. She wondered if he had used his army of industrial spies to check up on her. She was tempted to ask but she also didn't want to implicate her own father. The two must have shared the same thought and the awkward silence was followed by laughter. What was understood didn't need to be said.
"Well...if you insist can I at least borrow the family yacht?"
"Nope!"
"What?! You just sa-"
"I recall my daughter saying that she wanted to be independent from the family fortune? Besides, I have my own plans for the yacht. Your mother and I like to have fun too you know!"
"But Daaaaaad" Kit said drawing out the word. "The Kiri fleet is for war not fun!"
"Then build one with your own money or better yet, make some friends and use theirs"
"I do-"
The man smirked and raised an eyebrow. This was exactly his point. He didn't want her relying on him to bail her out on this. She needed to go out and find some likeminded youth. He missed the old Kit and Kat. He wants us to throw a party without him knowing about it and he wants to clear his conscience by me not using the family yacht. Kitsuki took his meaning immediately and smiled.
"Whatever, Dad. I have to go..."
"Oh I'm sure you do! But at least I've given you a lot to think about."
"That's what I come here for...that and of course the fish and chips" Kit said with a wink.
Kitsuki and her father would stand and say their goodbyes. Before Kit departed from Manor Kurahasa she would receive a care package from her mother and Otto. It contained a lot of her favorite snacks, fruit, perfumes, gifts and assorted knick-knacks that she'd appreciate. The Princess could get the items from anywhere but it felt good to get it from those who loved her most. Kitsuki's father had given her sage advice and she intended to put it into practice. Even his odd request for her to have fun. It was a foreign ask from a man that had lost hair over his wild and out of control daughters. Kit decided that she'd make her beloved Dad regret it. It was no fun if he told her how to have fun. And it certainly wouldn't be the kind of fun she had with Kat if he approved of it. No, she'd need this to be her own thing. Free of her father's influence and expectations. Get my own yacht then? Fine. My yacht, my party, my rules.
[Exit]
