The Deity Entertainment Network

Takeyama Estate

"She is not worthy of you, John Wayne. You would be better served by my daughter or great-granddaughter." Sakura Takeyama said coldly as soon as Yu left the room, her voice speaking quickly yet clearly enunciating every word. They had been ushered in here as soon as the helicopter landed, then after a short greeting, she kicked her granddaughter out.

"What?"

They were standing in a well-appointed study, with a cold hearth and a large collection of books. He was being measured for a suit by what appeared to be a ghost wearing a dress like that Saber's armour he picked up from the gatcha. She appeared to be a woman in her early twenties, and someone could be forgiven for mistaking her for Yu's sister. She stood around five feet tall, with medium-length blonde hair tied back in a ponytail and emerald-green eyes, but shared many of Yu's striking features. She had the same intensity to her gaze that Yu had when she was irritated, but had a gravitas that belied her youthful appearance.

The weirdest thing about her was that she was translucent and could pass through solid objects like she wasn't even there. Though apparently she could write on a notepad and handle a tape measure with no issues, even pushing John's limbs around as she took in his size.

"Did I stutter? My granddaughter decided to rebel against the family's needs and carve her own path. I wished her well on her journey, but she had spat on our honour by doing so. She should not be rewarded with the privilege of carrying a true paladin's child just because she came back to the household with her tail between her legs. That should be given only to those who know how to put the family's needs first! Now, spread your legs. I need to measure your thighs."

John was at a loss for words for a moment, unsure where to start tackling this conversation. He decided to start with his own issue. "First off, what do you mean by true Paladin? I'm just-"

"Don't even try that. I was in the sword when you saved Mei and fought Toxic Chainsaw. I even sent you the power to stop that hero who tried to attack you. I learned much about you that day, John Wayne, the healer, the protector, the starship pilot, the paladin prince. You have many other titles I could call you by, and none of them would be wrong; you are leading an interesting life with these beings from DEN."

"So you gathered that already." He replied, confirming what he already guessed.

"Yes. Honestly, if it wasn't for the fact that you already have a bonded weapon, Sano and I would have already pushed Godslayer onto you and had you marry one of our family, if not a whole host of them. You would have become the most important member of our household overnight. I'm still of the mind to do it anyway, letting you wield both of those weapons would put you well beyond our enemies in India, but Sano isn't as keen on that as I am. So, I will follow my father's wishes and settle for you marrying my daughter or great-granddaughter when she comes of age from your country. I know you modern people have some weird qualms about people being eighteen; it wasn't like that back in my day."

"So, me being just entertainment for some Gods doesn't phase you?" John said, trying to keep up with her rapidly fired words.

"Phase me? Please, humans have always been the playthings for one god or another for eons. This is no different. It's hidden well, but you are hardly the first being that has passed through our world from somewhere in the multiverse."

"And what if I refuse to marry any of your family?" He asked, starting to get annoyed as his mind was finally catching up with her rapid speech pattern.

"You want to make enemies of the Takeyama family?"

"No. I want my own freedom of choice, along with Yu being free to choose as well. Yu and Mei were the first two of your family I ever met, and I had no idea how influential your family was until I stepped into that museum. Now, I'm talking with a dead woman who is taking my measurements for a suit, to attend a ball with apparently your family's black sheep, and being told she isn't worthy of me. She is a great woman, and has the potential to be a great hero."

"She is in need of a strong man to lead her correctly, and frankly, for her actions, she doesn't deserve to be with a man as great as you are. Most men would be marrying up coming into the Takeyama household, but you will be the first in several generations that would be marrying down."

"There is that marriage thing again. Why? Why are you hell-bent on me adding to your bloodline? What in the fuck is wrong with you?"

"You're a true paladin, John. Plus, you have magic in your blood. Both of those died out on Earth around the time that Babylon was just a small town on a river. The order of paladins limped on for another few thousand years in one form or another, but without magic, they were a husk of what they originally were. Boots off, I need to measure your feet."

"That doesn't explain any of this." He replied, not moving.

"Boots off."

"Alright, that is enough, sweetheart. Answer my questions first, or by god, I will find some magic to purify this demon floating in front of me." He said, channelling the rage he was feeling into his fist. Mana started to arc around his hands and wrist, the power of his sword augmenting his body.

She floated up in front of him, a weird smirk forming on her lips. "Good. I was wondering how long it would take you to stand up to me. You pass."

"I what? Was that some sort of weird test?" He said, not releasing his anger.

"Yes. I had to be sure of you, and now I am. I can sense the righteousness in you. You're indeed a true Paladin, though still a bit rough around the edges. Come, sit down, and I will explain anything you want to know, albeit from my perspective as a ten thousand-year-old spirit."

She floated over to the chairs by the hearth and sat down, rather hovering over one. John shrugged, hoping to get some answers now that she seemed... docile was probably not the right word. He wasn't sure it was in her vocabulary, but at least she now seemed willing to talk. He joined her in the other chair.

"What would you like me to explain first?" She said, crossing her legs and assuming a very ladylike appearance.

"First off, what is this true paladin stuff you keep talking about?"

"You have a righteous anger that allows you to overcome your fears, you have a strong moral code of wanting to protect the defenceless regardless of the laws of the land, and you can both channel divinity and access magic. That is the definition of a true paladin, even without the faith that is usually ascribed to them. Some of the most powerful true paladins were agnostic even back in the day, without the need of some meddling god to augment their powers."

He couldn't really argue that point, not overly knowing what a paladin was in this world, and only as it was in Warcraft, where they channelled the power of the Light and were not granted powers from an actual divine being. "Okay, so why are you so interested in me marrying someone from your family?"

"It's not the married per se, but your seed. Our heritage was initially fueled by true paladins, you see, and while we have kept childbearing to a minimum, at least in the main house, the blood is already starting to be thinned out. We were growing concerned that within the next few generations, the Takeyama blood would become thinned enough that we couldn't produce an heir capable of wielding Godslayer and being able to combat the Indian's if they tried to push for world domination again.

Even in the current generation, only Mordred was capable of wielding the blade, and she was killed when she didn't have it with her. Mei is only partially compatible; the power causes her great pain when she attempts to wield the sword. Yu has the potential, but she chose a different path, turning her back on family traditions. I am getting off topic, but that is why she is not worthy of you, John. She decided to give up the path that lay before her, choosing to be corrupted by Sloth, Lust, and Envy instead. Back to the topic.

With your seed, we hope to revitalize our bloodline, giving your children and the Takeyama family access to mana again. We could even put it in cryo and every few generations, have willing women have your children, keeping the family running until we could make Takeyama fruit again. Yu told you about the fruit, correct?"

"Yes, she mentioned it."

"Well, I'll make you a deal. Right here and now. Cum in a test tube for me, and I will provide you with one of the fruits." She said, materializing a test tube out of thin air. "You will gain a powerful Quirk and become effectively immortal. You won't be bothered by our family again, and your Twilight Knight secret will remain with Hinata, Sano and me. Here, I'll even slide it inside here so you can see what it's like to make love to a spirit." She pushed the vial through her translucent waist, the mouth of the tube right about where her cervix would have been if she had an actual body.

Fucking a ghost? Is she serious? I wish Scouter worked on this being, but it's like when I used it on Nezu. Nothing.

It was an interesting offer, but he already effectively had that through DEN. Gaining a powerful Quirk could be worth it, but it's not like you knew which Quirk you were going to get.

"What of my children?" He asked.

"You would never know they existed. We won't even tell them who the father was, much like Yu and Mordred had no idea who their father was."

"Yeah, we are done here. Thank you for your time, Sakura. I would say it has been fun, but that would be a lie." John said, standing up and walking to the door.

"Wait! Where are you going?"

"I'm going home. Whether on that helicopter or on a train, I'm done with this nonsense. Call me old-fashioned, but if I'm going to have children with your family, it will be the proper way, not through a test tube and not be part of their lives. I'm not going to let some ghost tell me I can't see my children." He replied, then slammed the door of the study.

Sakura watched him go, her smirk widening on her face. It was fun toying with the younger generation and getting them to start thinking the way you wanted, without having to lead them to the trough yourself.

Outskirts of Jaku City

"I'm sorry. I should have told-" Yu said, holding John's hands again outside of the waiting helicopter. She had been horrified when John told her some of what they had discussed, making the flight home fairly awkward.

"Enough, Yu. You have done nothing but apologize for your grandmother's actions the entire way back, and it isn't necessary. You told me she would be intense, and she definitely was, but that isn't your doing." John replied, looking down at her, trying to figure out how they even got in this position. "Listen, I would have appreciated you telling me she was a damn ghost, but otherwise you're fine. Okay?"

"Okay. Will you still come with me to the ball despite this? I swear my mother is much easier to get along with than my grandmother."

He sighed. "Sure, though I don't know if she was done measuring me for the suit. I'll just stop by a store and grab one."

"Don't do that. Don't wear tags to one of these events. You'll stand out as it is, but if you showed up in a suit that wasn't custom-tailored, it would look bad on my family. I'll make some phone calls tomorrow and see what we can do on short notice." Yu said, then changed the subject. "This was as close as we could get you to home. Do you want me to call you a car?"

"Naw, darling. I've already ordered a cab. See you tomorrow."

"Good night, John." She said, then surprisingly bounced up on her tiptoes and pecked him on the cheek.

She blushed and then ran back inside the helicopter, leaving John alone with his thoughts. He walked towards the street as the aircraft took off out of the sports field they landed in, Yu waving at him from the cabin window.

God, she really is inexperienced with men despite how flirty she was back in the bar. It's actually kind of sweet. That ghost, though, I have no bloody clue what to do about her. These Takeyamas have the Sword of Damocles dangling over me right now, able to destroy me with one phone call.

He replayed the conversation with Sakura in his head, analyzing every word she spoke. Despite her flowery words, she was rather domineering until he threatened her, then she turned... well, not meek, but somewhat more cordial, even tamed. If you can tame a tiger anyway. She didn't try to stop him from leaving, which was rather surprising as he thought about it more.

I have something they want, so they want to negotiate, but they are holding most of the cards. I think this family respects power above all else, so I need to take a position of strength around them. Despite the fact that they can just blackmail me, I can't show my belly to them, else they will just walk all over me. So be it.

John nodded to himself. He still wasn't sure if Yu's mother, the actual head of the household, had the same opinion as Sakura, but he would be prepared. They thought he was this true paladin because of DEN, so he would show them what he thought a true paladin was.

The cab arrived, and he got in the back, asking the driver to take him to a shopping centre to get some things he needed. The man had already started to drive before John had even told him where he wanted to go, accelerating hard enough to throw John back in his seat.

Is this the same cabbie again? Naw, it can't be. That would make no bloody sense that he was in three different cities now.

John put the origin of the cabbie out of his mind, buckling in as he was more concerned about surviving the cabbie's driving than if it was the same guy.

*SCHREECH!!! HONK!!! VRRROOOMMM!!!*

Yeah, let's just keep invulnerability on standby... No need to die tonight.