The Second Archon War: Imperatrix Umberosa 19 (Patreon)

Imperitrix Umberosa 19: After the Thunder Comes the Rain

For the past month after both the official conclusion of the Third Sino-Japanese War, and the less official end, Noriko had been eternally grateful that her girlfriend was a pirate who stole magical electrical crystals. Without that, she would have been forced to resort to being a barbarian or one of those ancient sticks in the mud who insisted on doing everything by hand and on paper. She had converted to digital ages ago, and it was that adaptability that allowed Jade Chamber Industries to become an economic titan in the increasingly competitive Japanese market.

Of course, that didn’t mean that life was exactly peachy. She had to carefully ration her electro crystals to power only the most vital of her company's digital databases, manufacturing equipment, and communications. Most of Japan was still suffering from rolling blackouts or brownouts, even with the Raiden Shogun planting a new tree daily and old power stations being frantically brought back online.

Right now, she was most thankful for the little electro crystals keeping her laptop running as she had yet another impossible meeting. “Is there any possible way to increase production of rice domestically? We’re already bringing in tons of it from Vietnam, but the Americans just levied another damn tariff against us.”

“Not currently, Lady Noriko,” one of the bureaucrats said. She glared at him, not just because she was getting answers she didn’t like, but because they were all starting to call her ‘Lady.’ There was something going on with that, she just knew it, but Noriko didn’t have the time or energy to figure that out just yet.

“I work for a living, Sato. I started off with a street cart and snacks when I was in grade school, and I haven’t stopped since. I’m no lady,” Noriko snapped.

Sato paled and bowed his head. “As you say, Lady Noriko. But we have to find new sources of food: Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Korea are equally all in desperate need, and consequently, prices have shot through the roof.”

She was going to strangle someone. No. She was going to have Bukdu strangle someone. What was the point of keeping the big gorilla and her giant axe around if she didn’t intimidate someone now and then?

“Fine.” Her thoughts raced, and she pulled up some spreadsheets, projecting them on the screen before her. She walked around, studying the chart, clicking her remote to make it advance. “Then we will teach everyone to eat bread.”

“Lady Noriko?” Sato asked, sounding confused.

She pointed to the graph. “Australia! Get me the Australian government! They export beef and wheat, and the Chinese market has collapsed for them. We’ll buy it all! Get them to increase production if anything! If we can’t have rice, then for now, we’ll eat bread. People won’t like it, but it’s better than starving to death.”

“Of course, Lady Noriko.”

“Stop calling me that! And get me the Sentai. We’ll need some special refrigerated cars for transporting and storing the beef with most of the electrical grid still down. I don’t care whose arm you have to twist: We have to avoid food riots at all costs, especially in North Korea and Taiwan! It’s already a nightmare rebuilding there and integrating the populations, and for now they’re completely reliant on us.”

More murmurs of assent, and then another problem was brought up.

“We’re seeing a rise in the number of people with preventable diseases dying. Especially those who need regular medication, like insulin. With the transportation network mostly down, and our manufacturing capability nearly completely offline-”

If it wasn’t the current energy crisis, it was the food shortages. If it wasn’t food shortages, it was dwindling medicine supplies. And if it wasn’t either of those, it was plain old fuel.

This was a tangled, thorny web, with no easy answers. By the end of the meeting, Noriko was exhausted and ready to crawl into bed. Bukdu was unfortunately still on assignment to harvest as many Electro Crystals as she could (legally this time) and get them delivered to the desperate Taiwanese.

The Republic of Taipei (who were still angry that Raiden, by way of Noriko, had insisted they change their name from the Republic of China) had been even more devastated than Japan by the double whammy of an EMP and the war taking place mainly on the island. There were tens of thousands dead, and more dying, and Taiwan’s ability to make anything useful was similarly undercut despite attempts by the JBA and Sentai to limit collateral damage. Much good that had done them when the Golden Bastard had detonated nukes in the upper atmosphere right over Taipei.

Instead, she had yet another meeting, this one a phone conference. So she took a shower, had a quick meal of MREs (sweet and sour sauce with rice and chicken, and a See’s chocolate bar she had Bukdu smuggle in for her) changed into a clean kimono (fashion be damned, they were more comfortable than suits), and turned on her blessedly electro-powered laptop for her conference.

A few minutes later, a woman in an olive green military uniform with a red star on her cap and a purple vision pinned to her lapel appeared on the screen. “Good evening, Miss Keqing,” Noriko greeted her.

“And to you, Miss Noriko,” the newly minted leader of the People’s Republic of Hong Kong said crisply. “The workers of Hong Kong extend their greetings to their fellow laborers in Japan.”

Noriko had to work very hard not to roll her eyes. If Keqing wasn’t so damn effective as a leader, she’d never have agreed to work with a communist. At least she was also a proponent of the free market, even if she did buy into a lot of that Maoist garbage. “As a worker, I return their greetings with thanks.”

Despite the obvious effort, Keqing smirked slightly at that. She knew perfectly well that Noriko had gotten everything she’d attained through the sweat of her own brow (and sometimes slightly, or very, illegal means) but she still considered Noriko to be a parasite and an exploiter of workers. Which just went to show that Keqing had no idea how cutthroat the labor market currently was and just how generous Noriko had to make her compensation packages to get the best to work for her.

“Indeed. Well, we must continue to struggle against military juntas and capitalist overlords to allow the workers of our sphere to unite in their cause,” Keqing stated seriously. Then she picked up a sheaf of paper and flipped through it. “To that end, I am afraid I must once again request Kairagi to arm ourselves with. General Huang’s forces continue to threaten us. I’d like to establish more than just a beachhead to give us defensive depth in case he tries to seize the bridges again.”

“You know that’s completely out of the question. We will provide training for your parahumans and Vision Holders and supply you with conventional arms, but we will not support any offensive actions on mainland China, especially not with our Kairagi,” Noriko stated firmly.

“You’re giving Kairagi to Seoul. Why not the People’s Republic?” Keqing demanded, her eyes narrowing.

“We are not giving Kairagi to the Republic of Korea. Korea has a functional arms manufacturing industry, and we are collaborating with them to create the Jeoggi combat platform,” Noriko replied calmly. That much was public information, though it would be months if not years yet before either Japan or Korea had enough spare power to invest in new projects. As it was, they had adapted and rebranded some Kairagi MK I with a different coat of paint for Korean manufacture and use. A flimsy excuse, but the pretense would be temporary.

…Better be temporary. The military was notorious for cutting corners and there was no solution so permanent as a supposedly temporary one. Problem for the next Commissioner, Noriko had more pressing fires to douse in the present.

“Well, then collaborate with us. We have factories that we can repurpose for such things, and our electrical grid is increasingly stable,” Keqing said with a shrug.

Noriko typed out a note and frowned to herself. “That I must discuss with the Raiden Shogun and Lord Mushu.”

“Tch. You call yourself a worker, yet you are beholden to a dictator and antiquated nobility,” Keqing scoffed.

“I’m a businesswoman, just like you. I’d love to see democracy return to Japan, but currently my main customer is the Japanese government, and that means working with a god empress and a divine dragon who can call themselves whatever they want,” Noriko said with a shrug.

“It seems power no longer grows out of the barrel of a gun, but under the shade of a parahuman’s blade,” Keqing said with a shake of her head in disgust. “And I don’t have nearly enough of those. I’m one of our few Vision Holders, and I can hardly spend all my time on the front lines. Still, I would have thought you had better sense than to believe in false superstitions.”

“You saw what we all did, Keqing. You witnessed the Kamikaze. The Desolation of Leviathan. Saw her lay waste to armies all on her own. What else do you call a supremely powerful being?” Noriko asked in exasperation.

Keqing snorted in disdain. “Hmph. She bowed to Scion. She’s not as powerful as you claim.”

“And yet you bow to her,” Noriko said softly.

That made Keqing stiffen, her knuckles going white as she crumpled a bit of the paper in her hands. “I do what must be done for the workers of Hong Kong, and one day, all of China.”

“Perhaps you would prefer to bow to Scion?” Noriko demanded, growing irritated with this Maoist fool.

“No,” Keqing said softly, her eyes glinting with real malice. “He humiliated China deliberately. I can agree with the Raiden Shogun that the Yangban and their pet emperor were a disease that needed to be purged. She was rather precise in cutting out that illness. I may not be fond of her, but it was Scion who left millions of my brothers and sisters plagued by famine and war. He’s as bad as any imperialist colonizer.”

“Worse,” Noriko said grimly. She wasn’t certain what Scion was yet, but any being that had Raiden cowed was far too frightening to comprehend. “Well, what of your food stocks?”

“We’re getting shipments from India. Our currency reserves are depleting rapidly, but with your help we’ve nearly got our factories back online, and power mostly restored to the city.” Keqing paused, then bowed stiffly. “Thank you for that. I know your own country still suffers from a lack of power as well as famine and disease.”

“The Raiden Shogun has sheltered us from much,” Noriko said with a shrug. “And we do not abandon our allies or investments. See that you pay off, Keqing.”

“What, so I can be your puppet?” Keqing snapped. “I am not. I serve the Workers of Hong Kong!”

“So you can become a valuable trading partner. Hard to have a profitable relationship with a beggar,” Noriko said with another shrug.

“Ah. Well. Do not forget that one day, China will be reunited under the People’s Republic.”

“I hope so,” Noriko said half truthfully. “And I hope you will not forget that we extended a helping hand, not a clenched fist.”

“True enough,” Keqing agreed, though she sounded bitter. Then she got down to brass tacks at last. “Now, I heard you were running short of medicine. We’ve pivoted a lot of our manufacturing to medical supplies. Not everything is up and running, but we can start with sending you shipments of insulin. In return, we want more hard currency, not just raw materials.”

That was music to Noriko’s ears, and the bargaining and haggling began in earnest.

After all that was done, Noriko dragged herself to bed at an ungodly hour. She expected her room to be empty, but to her surprise, a giant gorilla greeted her.

“There you are! I swear, you’re working way too hard!” Bukdu said, getting up and smiling as she came over to hug Noriko. “Come on, I got your favorite take out, from that Ramen shop down by the docks.”

“Thank you,” Noriko said fervently, accepting a plastic bowl and sinking into a chair. She sniffed the somewhat cold noodles, but it couldn’t be helped. She was too hungry to really care, and started shoveling the greasy food into her mouth with delight.

“So, they still working you like a dog?” Bukdu demanded, putting her boots up on the good furniture, as usual. She was still wearing her sailor’s stained paints and coat, and on the good furniture too.

“Mmhmm. Why are you still wearing those filthy rags? Didn’t I buy you some proper clothes?” Noriko demanded, frowning at Bukdu.

“What am I, your pet? Besides, I found something you might like on my trip.” Bukdu reached into a weather-beaten backpack and pulled out some shimmering fabric, grinning at Noriko. “You like it? Got it in trade from a lady I know in Taipei City.”

Noriko took the garment, admiring the silky fabric and shimmer. Then she frowned at Bukdu. “You weren’t visiting brothels again, were you?”

“Oh for- I haven’t done that since-! Ugh, anyway, yes, I was, but only to keep up with my contacts and you know it,” Bukdu huffed, taking off her eyepatch and revealing her scarred and empty socket. She pulled out some ointment and rubbed a bit of it in, letting out a sigh. “Shit’s bad, Noriko. Even the whores are going hungry.”

“Enough to trade their finest clothes for a favor?” Noriko demanded.

Bukdu grimaced and looked away. “For a hot meal. Ming was skin and bones…”

“Ah.” Noriko felt slightly more guilty for her takeout, but didn’t complain. Then she had a thought. “And the ramen? How much was it?”

“Don’t be mad, but 2500 yen,” Bukdu answered, slumping back in her seat.

“For the two of us? A bit pricey, but not bad.”

“No, Nori. Each. It was 5000 yen. And that was with old man Ken giving me a discount for old times sake.”

“Five thousand?!” Noriko put her head in her hands, feeling defeated. “If food prices are that high… half the population won’t be able to feed themselves. Not with so many out of work.”

“Most of them are on the dole now, but you made that happen.” Noriko felt strong arms around her, and leaned into Bukdu’s warmth, sniffing at her. She hadn’t showered, the unkempt gorilla, but the sweat and salt smelled like home. “You’re killing it, Nori. We’re caught in a typhoon and make no mistake, there’s a hole in the hull and the ship’s taking on water, but you’re bailing for all your worth and keeping us on a steady course. You’re doing it right.”

“I had to barter for insulin today. Insulin. We have children dying of an easily treatable disease because we can’t make, store, or transport enough insulin for them. It all comes back to power. We just don’t have enough of it. And here I am, enjoying my takeout with a one eyed gorilla!”

“A beautiful and strong one-eyed gorilla, right?” Bukdu teased, and kissed Noriko tenderly.

“The most beautiful gorilla of them all,” Noriko agreed, returning the kiss. Then she let out a squeak when Bukdu picked her up.

“Right! Time for bed! I’ll help you relax.”

“Put me down! You haven’t even bathed!” Noriko protested, pounding her fists fruitlessly against Bukdu’s shoulders.

“Of course not! We’ll take a bath together. How else am I going to get my little Nori to take a load off?”

“Hmph.” Noriko fought back a smile, then gave up and grinned. “Well, as long as you scrub my back.”

The next day, Noriko woke up early, though somehow Bukdu was up even before she was. Breakfast was cold fish and half-stale bread. She could have had better, she had the money and connections for that, but if the people were barely getting by, Noriko wasn’t going to feast while they starved.

“So, what’s on the menu today? I’m in port for the next couple of days,” Bukdu told her.

“Meeting with the Raiden Shogun, Lord Mushu, and the Emperor,” Noriko said with a heavy sigh, trying to put her hair up in a messy bun.

“Sheesh, that looks awful. Here, let me.” Bukdu took out a wooden hair pin and soon had Noriko’s hair up in a much more presentable fashion. “There. Gotta have a captain lookin’ shipshape for her meeting with the bigwigs.”

“I just hope Raiden can find some replacement for the head of the Kanjou commission. Nakamura is dead, and without a leader, the state is drifting rudderless.” Noriko sighed as she stared forlornly at the documents on the table. At the surprised snort of laughter, she looked up to glare at her lover, trembling with a terribly hidden smile. “What? What’s so funny? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Wh-why don’t you ask Raiden about that, Lady Noriko? Haha, hey, stop it! Tickling is cheating, haha! Ah, come on, I just got dressed, haha! Oh, now you’re in for it!”

Sometime later, Noriko finally got out of the house, with Bukdu at her side. The dumb gorilla really did think she could manhandle Noriko whenever she wanted. Noriko would have to find a way to try and punish her later. Much later, as that really had helped relieve a lot of her tension.

Being a person of note, Noriko had one of the few still working cars and a charging station, along with a driver standing by to take her and Bukdu to the imperial residence. Most of the trains and subways were still offline, and there still wasn’t enough power for anyone but important officials to have cars. It made her feel slightly guilty, but Noriko’s time was valuable and it was a necessity.

They drove past people in worn clothes with hollow, hungry faces. For Japan, everything was rather dirty, including the people and clothes. That still meant the city and its populace was fairly clean by most standards, but it was a disconcerting sign of how on edge everyone was.

However, when they drove past a shrine with a ruined Sacred Sakura tree, there were lines of people there to offer prayers and incense to the Raiden Shogun. Even in their desperation, people still clung to their savior. Noriko had half expected them to turn on Raiden, and said as much to Bukdu.

“Are you kidding? Do you know what people are saying as far as Taipei?” Bukdu asked. When Noriko shook her head, she continued, “They’re saying Scion was ready to kill us all, and it was the Raiden Shogun who interceded and saved us. That she demanded he punish her, not the people. Even so, he destroyed her trees, which she planted to give people power and life, out of malice and spite. They’re calling him Maou the Golden.”

“That’s a disturbing thought,” Noriko said with a shake of her head. She continued to ponder that as she arrived at the palace, and was escorted to Raiden’s chambers, where the young Emperor and Mushu already waited.

“Hey, it’s my favorite supreme dictator!” Bukdu said, brightening at seeing the Emperor. She hurried up to him, then dropped her voice. “Tell me you got the good stuff.”

Despite his form robes and regal bearing, upon seeing Bukdu, the Emperor grinned like a schoolboy. “Oh I do indeed, my dear captain. I just finished the latest batch last night.”

“Well don’t just tease me, hand it over!” Bukdu urged as the Emperor flipped open a briefcase and pulled out some papers. She snatched them out of his hands, then hurried over to a seat, her eye racing back and forth.

Ignoring the byplay, Noriko turned to Mushu. “And how is Keiga doing?”

“Feeling fat as a whale and twice as grumpy,” Mushu rumbled, looking mildly amused. “She’s due in a couple of weeks. I think people have finally accepted that she's not just gonna lay an egg.”

“What a horrible mental image,” Noriko said, shuddering slightly. She pulled out her laptop, tapping a few keys and bringing up some reports. “I need your latest estimates for fuel and ammunition consumption. I’m trying to calculate what our budget overrun will be for this year, and the military is going to be a big part of that.”

“Talk to my bean counters about it, I don’t keep track of that,” Mushu said with a shrug, which earned him a glare from Noriko. “What? You’re the one who’s in charge of keeping track of money and numbers and stuff. My job is just to spend it.”

“You do still have accountants, you know. Would it kill you to review that?” Noriko groaned.

“I do. I look at it, then ask someone smarter than me if it makes sense, and go back to running things. They know better to lie to me, and the guys I pick are dependable bastards. Besides, you know I never even graduated from High School, right? I can’t do math for shit.”

“At least Keiga has a brain,” Noriko muttered. “Because you and the Shogun are both-”

“NOOOOOOOO!” Bukdu suddenly screamed, and Noriko and Mushu both looked up to see the Emperor smugly leaning back in his chair, while Bukdu was clutching the papers, a look of agony on her face. “How could you DO THIS TO ME?!”

“Easily,” the Emperor drawled. “Come on. You had to see this coming.”

“JINGLIU AND JING YUAN WERE MEANT FOR ONE ANOTHER YOU ASSHOLE! And right before the wedding, she becomes MARA-STRUCK!? THIS IS THAT FUCKER LUOCHA’S FAULT ISN’T IT!? I knew that asshole was hiding something evil in his coffin!”

“Do you have any idea what the hell she’s mad about?” Mushu whispered, leaning closer to Noriko and knitting his eyebrows in confusion.

“Sadly, yes,” Noriko said with a sigh. “Bukdu won’t shut up about Train to the Stars. I don’t understand any of it, but she’s addicted. She was reading the damn web novel back before Yukuaki was even in consideration for the throne. Apparently, two of the more important characters had their wedding cruelly interrupted because the woman became ill with some sort of mystical plague, designed by the Plagues Author.”

“Right. I understand precisely none of that,” Mushu groaned. He shrugged. “Bunch of nonsense. Can’t believe we’re entrusting people that invested in a fantasy world to run this country.”

Just then, the door slid open, and Raiden stepped into the room, Tsukuyomi behind her. Bukdu ran over, tears in her eye. “Your Excellency, have you seen what your boy has done to my precious OTP?!”

Raiden pursed her lips and glanced at the Emperor, who gave her a shit eating grin and waved merrily. “Yes. But he is most insistent that the plot play out in this fashion. He has assured me all will be well in time.”

“AS LONG AS YOU KILL THAT SMUG BLOND PRICK!” Bukdu raged, whirling on the Emperor and pointing an accusatory finger at him.

“Now, now, Bukdu. Do you really trust me so little?” the Emperor chided. He put a hand to his chest, looking sorrowful. “These are my precious children, my very creations! How could I simply abuse and abandon them?”

“I still haven’t forgotten what you did to Tingyun, you asshole. And after giving her that cute scene with her daughter too!” Bukdu groused, going back to her seat and sulking.

“Well, the good news is, as soon as we fix the electrical grid, save everyone from starving, and get our economy going again, I’m going to green-light my own anime!” the Emperor said brightly, and clapped his hands. “So, shall we get started, then?”

“A moment. You brought up children earlier, yes?” Tsukoyomi said, taking a seat beside her mother.

“Uh, I don’t like where this is going, but yes?” the Emperor said nervously, his eyes darting back and forth between Raiden and her daughter.

“We have decided that it is best for Japan if the Son of Heaven is blessed with children,” Raiden said simply. “You will find a wife, and produce progeny.”

“I, uh, I um… that is… quite the order, your Excellency,” the Emperor said nervously.

“There should be many among your retainers who would gladly volunteer. If you do not produce results, we will arrange something for you,” Tsukoyomi said, her own tone lacking in emotion.

“You can’t just order the kid to find a girlfriend,” Mushu said, frowning at Ei. “It ain’t right.”

“... I’m three years older than you, you know,” the Emperor muttered, still red in the face.

“And I’m a married man with a daughter on the way, so I’m senior in this. But if you need any dating advice, I make a great wingman,” Mushu said, grinning at the Emperor, who gave a half hearted chuckle.

“The same goes for you, Lady Noriko,” Raiden continued, which made her sit up.

“EXCUSE me?!” Noriko sputtered. Shogun or not, Goddess or not, the audacity of this bi—

“As the head of the Kanjou Commission, it is your duty to ensure the lineage of your clan prospers, that we might have Retainers to serve us and Japan for many years to come. It was unfortunate that none of Lord Nakamura’s children were suitable for the post, but I have high hopes for you,” Tsukoyomi continued.

“If you struggle to find a husband, we will find a suitable one,” Raiden added.

“OH THE FUCK YOU WILL!” Bukdu shouted, actually angry this time as Prudence dropped into her hands, going so far as to put one foot on the table, her vision blazing brightly.

“O-one moment, Bukudu,” Noriko said, feeling faint. She blinked, trying to focus, then managed, “What do you mean, I am the head of the Kanjou Commission?”

“Hold on a sec,” Mushu said, getting up and striding over behind Raiden and Tsukoyomi. “Important Familiar Duty to attend to.” Then, to Noriko’s horror, he slammed the Shadow Princess and Raiden Shogun’s heads together.

“SHE’S GAY, YOU IDIOTS. SHE’S BUKDU’S LOVER!” Mushu thundered, even as Raiden and Tsukoyomi squawked in protest and rubbed at their heads.

“... oh,” Raiden said, blinking once. She tilted her head to one side. “I see.”

“My apologies. I should have paid better attention. Human mating rituals escape me at times,” Tsukoyomi said, bowing slightly to Noriko and Bukdu.

“Do I get to crack their skulls too?” Bukdu growled, her axe still in a white knuckled grip.

“No,” Mushu said, snorting a bit of lightning. “Sit your ass back down, I already handled it.”

Bukdu didn’t comply until Noriko grabbed her belt and hauled her back down. “I still haven’t gotten an answer to my question.”

“I do not understand the query,” Tsukoyomi said with a frown, and Raiden nodded.

“How… how am I the head of the Kanjou Commission!? I’m the CEO of Jade Chamber Industries, I was just assisting with emergency matters…” Noriko said, feeling faint still.

“Question,” the Emperor said, raising his hand. “If I’m gay, do I get a pass on the whole having to get married thing?”

“No,” Mushu said. “Half because you're not, and half because I’m pretty sure I know what Raiden’s next order will be.”

“And that is?” Bukdu demanded, putting one hand on top of Prudence, a dangerous gleam in her eye.

“You will find a suitable male to stud for you, or find an heir to adopt,” Tsukoyomi said.

“After you and Bukdu are wed, of course,” Raiden agreed.

Bukdu blinked, then glanced at Noriko, who decided that today just wasn’t her day. “Oh. Uh. That’s… that’s legal?”

“Technically it isn’t,” Noriko said, feeling like she was a million miles away. “Or, well, not technically… gay marriage isn’t legal in Japan.”

“Truly?” Raiden turned to the Emperor. “Why have you not corrected this oversight? This is the domain of the Yashiro Commission.”

“I’m just now finding out it is an oversight. You… uh, you’re approving this?” the Emperor asked, scratching his head.

“Unions between lovers must be recognized by the state, so that their heirs can be properly designated. This is how Eternity is ensured. I had thought you understood this,” Raiden said, frowning at the Emperor.

“Uh, right. I’ll see to that. Um, just lesbian couples, or…?” the Emperor coughed, looking embarrassed. “N-not that I’m opposed, that’s very progressive of you, just, uh a bit sudden.”

“You shall authorize unions between lovers, provided they are of legal age. It shall be up to the Yashiro commission to determine what that is, based on the partner’s species. It varies with Yokai, but I recall that for humans, it is generally given as 16,” Raiden said, glancing at Tsukoyomi.

“... you’re legally an adult at 20, so…” the Emperor sighed. “I’ll just fix up the consent laws while I’m at it, I guess. Oh boy, fun times for me. I thought I’d be getting hate mail for killing off fan-favorites, not for speedrunning queer rights.”

“Very good. Now, in the 32 days since the Sustainer’s attack, I have planted 31 Thunder Sakura Trees. Later today, I shall plant the 32nd. How fare our energy demands?” Raiden asked.

Noriko shook her head and forced her mind back to the task at hand. “There were nearly 700 Thunder Sakura trees previously, and you were still planting them from time to time. We’ll need to get to at least 300 before we have something even close to adequate power. Engineers are working around the clock, and we’ve brought online several coal-powered plants and hydro electric dams, but-”

The meeting lasted all morning until the Raiden Shogun departed. Noriko never did get an answer to why on Earth Raiden thought that she was head of the Kanjou Commission.

Once she was back in her own office, Bukdu closed the door and came over to sit on her desk, grinning cheekily. “So, what it’ll it be, hot stuff?”

“I don’t care, you order lunch,” Noriko said, getting out her laptop again. Bukdu closed it before she could open it, and leaned forward so that Noriko could feel her breath on her face, which made her blush.

“That’s not what I meant, Miss Nori, and you know it.”

“I, well, I’m still not certain why everyone thinks I’m one of the Tri-Commission heads!” Noriko spluttered.

“Your mind isn’t deep enough in the bilges. Let me help with that,” Bukdu said, and picked Noriko up, scooping her into her lap.

“Bukdu, I have work to do,” Noriko protested, even as her arms circled around Bukdu and she rested her head on Bukdu’s chest, feeling her heartbeat within.

“I mean, are you going to have someone stand stud, or are we adopting? Because I’m up for finding a guy for a three- OW!”

Noriko pulled her teeth out of Bukdu’s neck as her lover chuckled, and spat the blood to the side. “I am not taking a man to bed.”

“Could use a turkey baster, you know. Or whatever high-tech method they got now. Not nearly as much fun, trust me. You should give guys a shot at least once!”

“I am not having children. I don’t have time to be pregnant. Do you?” Noriko demanded hotly, ignoring that last comment.

“Eh, suppose not. So, adoption, it is?” Bukdu asked, grinning widely.

“We’re not even married yet!” Noriko spluttered.

“That sounds like an invitation…”

“It’s not legal yet,” Noriko huffed, turning her head away. She blushed when Bukdu nibbled at the back of her neck.

“Mhmm…”

“B-but as soon as it is…we’ll go down to the courthouse and- ah! A-and file the paperwork.”

“You don’t want a big wedding? You’d look smokin’ in a wedding dress,” Bukdu needled.

Noriko rolled her eyes. “Do YOU want a big wedding?”

“Never thought you’d ask! Of course, I do! I’ll make all the boys dress up in cute little sailor uniforms! They’ll be precious! Ooo, should we both wear bridal gowns, or should we go for suits? Or mix and match? The Japanese styles would have obis though. Do that classic pull and whirl trope, eh?”

“This is going to cost a fortune…”

“Damn, good thing I’m marrying into money then!” Bukdu grinned again, then leaned down to press her lips to Noriko’s. After a long kiss, she pulled back and whispered, “I love you, Miss Nori. And I’m damn happy to marry you.”

“And I love you too, you big gorilla.”

“That’s CAPTAIN Gorilla to you!”

“Very well, Captain Gorilla. Now let me go and get some lunch, we have a nation to rebuild.”

“Aye aye,” Bukdu said, though it was a few more moments before she did let Noriko go and swaggered off to get some lunch.

Noriko watched her go, and smiled to herself. Then she frowned when she remembered something. “Am I really the head of the Kanjou Commission?”

She briefly considered it, then decided that there wasn’t anyone else who could do a better job.

Then she got back to work. Every politician had at least a little corruption. Her company would just have to be her little indulgence.

PHILO: It is only natural for hypercompetent businesswoman to have a few blindspots such as maximal bottom energy towards their lover and no self-awareness to their own company. We’d be doomed otherwise. BTW, Bukdu is def the TOP.