Chapter 34: Birthday Celebrations

It was a two day run to the sea using best speed, and then another day on a Fast Courier-Boat. A Fast-Courier was a new type of ship which used recent advancements in aerial propulsion to create a water-jet engine capable of cruising at up to sixty mph, similar to cigarette boats on Earth. Chakra intensive and heavily armed, the boat was kept small to minimize the water-resistance and thus there were few comforts. This particular Fast-Courier was one of mine, or at least my trading company's; I had one carried on board some of my larger trading vessels. That way, it conserved chakra, but if any pirates were detected nearby they could be quickly engaged. At most, two FCBs would go with a large convoy, but it was sufficient protection given the speed and armament differences.

The sleeping arrangements though were more of the “get comfy together” variety than anything truly comfortable, but, luckily for us, it was just a day's journey. Sachiko and I spent the time getting some cuddling while relaxing; Yasu spent most of his time staring off at the horizon. I had always loved the water, and going fast on it; I decided I'd get my own Fast Courier, just for relaxing on, and maybe the occasional mission that took us to sea. The trip, taken during early summer, was a fairly perfect way to transition from mission mode to my lordly duties.

We finally arrived at Hawk's Haven, or to be more specific, at the docks at Seal-Hawk Harbor. Hawk's Haven was a small sized island of about five hundred square miles, a bit bigger than say Hong Kong. There were a little over forty thousand people living there, with about a quarter living in the main town and only significant port, Seal-Hawk Harbor. The rest tended to be fishermen, ship-builders, or workers in the local mines. There was sufficient croplands for the island, though only about half of it had been developed, with sheep and goats for meat. Seal-Hawk Harbor had been under a constant program of expansion since we'd taken charge, and was home to my trading company. There was a factory on the outskirts of the town for seal-sword production.

My home, the fortified complex that I'd had built was actually on the water, off to the side of the harbor. It made sense, as it let me have my greatest concentration of weapons prepared to defend my main asset; the port town. At it's tallest, the Nest (the name given to my home) was five stories, and it was an example of fairly typical Japanese fortifications if you ignored the seals. Between the main house and the surrounding homes and barracks, there was room for myself and my family, as well as up to two hundred servants, retainers and guards. There was docking space for one mid-sized ship and up to four patrol craft or fast couriers, of which one was occupied by a patrol craft and two by fast couriers. When we docked, we filled the last open space for smaller craft.

Tou-san was there to greet us, and after a relatively light dinner, and bows from my servants whom I'd never met, we went to bed. The general plan was that in the morning, and for the next couple days, I'd meet my retainers, take their oaths and basically hold court. Then, there would be a party for my fourteenth birthday, after which I would tour my holdings, inspect the guards, and similar flag-waving type events. About two weeks into the stay I would be announcing the new school and militia programs designed to get the population to eighty percent chakra use and at least basic military training for all over the age of eighteen.

It was exhausting. If it weren't for the fact that it was my duty, I totally wouldn't have done it. I had over a hundred and forty combat capable ninja and samurai under my banner, counting genin and samurai apprentices, and a further four hundred guardsmen. The ninja and samurai had families, many of whose oaths I also had to receive. Many of my troops were seconded to my trading company for ship protection, but there were still hundreds of oaths to take in, honors to grant, and rewards to be given. After three days of that, and the endless “Fuutaka-dono” and bowing and scraping and gawking at the young lord, I was ready for a real vacation. Still, it was my duty, and it meant a lot to the people that were willing to (if necessary) die at my command, so I sucked it up and got on with it.

Finally, the endless meetings were temporarily finished, and while the household scrambled to prepare for the hundreds of expected guests, I relaxed, caught up with family, sparred with Tou-san, and basically had a good time. Kaa-san and I talked about sealing, and I finally met my little sister, Ayumi-chan (who was still a total midget). It was nice, but a bit odd; I hadn't seen them in person for almost six years, and then there we were. It was almost easier to talk to them over a communicator than in person. But we all pressed through the awkwardness until everything felt right again.

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Spoiler: “Lime”

The best part of my visit was definitely what happened on my birthday. The night before, I had gone to bed fairly early in anticipation of the celebration the next day. While it might sound like fun to have such a large party, as the over-lord of the region it was actually a fairly formal pain in the ass, more politics than fun. At midnight though I was woken up by someone coming into my room and turning the light seal onto a low setting.

Doing that kind of thing to someone with ninja training, well, it was lucky that I recognized my visitor as Sachiko.

“Sachiko, what are you doing? What time is it?”

“It's midnight, master. Happy birthday. As for what I'm doing, well, do you remember when you said that we wouldn’t do certain trainings together until you were old enough? I'm here as part of that agreement, Daichi-sama.”

It took a moment for that to sink in. On the one hand, was I ecstatic? Hell yes. We'd been cuddling and fooling about a bit for a while now, and it had taken a fairly prodigious level of willpower to resist going further.

On the other hand, I always hated getting woken up, even if the person doing so was a beauty dressed in a small, cute, pink sleeping-robe and looking for fun.

“And so you thought it was worth waking me up for your desires, Sachiko?” I asked with a relatively neutral tone. She immediately bowed her head, and I could sense a pang of guilt and self-loathing coming from her.

“I'm sorry master. Please forgive your foolish retainer.” I snorted at this. She did have a bit of a self-confidence issue, at least as far as our relationship went. Despite living in the Elemental Nations for over a decade, I hadn’t fully lost that modern, Earthlike view of romance and sex. But even the relatively advanced Uzushiogakure wasn’t committed to the principle of equality the same way the West was. Especially not between people of different ranks.

“I didn't say I was upset, Sachiko. A combination of elated and a bit annoyed at most. So look up.” When she did, showing her hope and excitement, I continued. “Now, if I remember, you said you’d done some advanced studying, hm?” I mused rhetorically. She swallowed.

Sachiko had adopted the viewpoint that the relationship between us would be partially training both of us, but most of all me; she wanted me to gain skill, find out what I wanted, what I was looking for in a partner and such for my future wife and harem. I think she did it for a few reasons. Partially, because she really did want what was best for me, and that justification helped overcome her (in her mind) “unworthiness.” Plus, if I really were as inexperienced as I would have been without reincarnation, it would have been legitimately helpful. Part of her viewpoint as well though was to protect herself, to set her expectations and understanding of the situation so that if I did tire of her, or move onto a partner of greater status, that she wouldn’t be as hurt as if she had as fully dedicated herself to me as a romantic partner.

And part of it was that she could tell I found it amusing when she talked about our relationship that way. I’d pretty quickly realized her own hang-ups due to the status difference, rationalized that, and then moved on. I was immortal, after all, and living in the moment, taking enjoyment from what I could, changing what I found distasteful, and accepting what I couldn’t change were all necessary to live a long, happy immortality without going mad.

“Yes, Daichi-sama.”

I winced a bit. “I really wish you wouldn’t call me that at moments like this, Sachiko,” I replied.

She looked up into my eyes. “I know. But I refuse to call you without the respect you deserve, Daichi-sama,” she said quietly but firmly.

I sighed. “I could order you to call me Daichi, you know.”

Her lips quirked. “But would it then have any meaning?”

We’d had the argument a dozen times if we’d had it once. It was pretty infuriating. But given the circumstances now…

“You know Sachiko, if you have a particular preference, you know I’m happy to accommodate you,” I said sultrily, teasing her.

She blushed a bit, far more of a reaction than I could typically get from her, and bashfully swept at the floor with her foot. “I hadn’t really thought about it, but maybe next time, if it pleases you, Daichi-sama?” she said softly, demurely, as if she were a total innocent.

She wasn’t. I’d seen the books she liked, and they were enough to make me, a twenty-first century male, blush. I suspected she had a long-term plan how to if not corrupt (for Sachiko would never do such a thing to her precious master), at the least finagle me into being willing to try out some of the more extreme scenes, their pages dog-eared and binding cracked from how long she had dwelled on them.

“So what were you planning for tonight then?” I asked curiously.

She smiled and stepped forwards. “First, I thought I’d show you your present,” she said. She let her robe fall from her shoulders, gathering along the floor. A ribbon wrapped around her, covering what a bikini might, tied in an artful bow at her pelvis.

I made a point of looking her over. “You're very beautiful, Sachiko.” And she was. Medium sized but firm breasts, toned muscles, excellent bone structure. She showed all the selective breeding that went into a ninja retainer.

“Thank you,” she said blushing a bit. “And now it’s time to unwrap your present.”

I first let my hands wander, tracing a few light scars from training and missions but avoiding the most erogenous zones, instead brushing her stomach, flanks, legs, and neck in between heated kisses. Finally, I let my hands wander to the dangling ends of the ribbon and was rewarded by a quick intake of breath.

Suffice to say, I very much enjoyed what came after I unwrapped my present.

It was strange to lose my virginity a second time. I definitely performed better than the first time, and I had much better expectations as to how much fun it would be. Sachiko blew those expectations out of the water. I don’t know what other training manuals she read, or what exactly she did to practice, but the results were amazing. Nor, really, did I want to know; knowing how a magician performs a trick takes the magic out of it.

I made sure to memorize the night using my visual and physical sensation memorization reinforcement, and decided I needed a seal to be able to transfer memories. It would be pretty damned kinky for Sachiko to go through the events, then see it from my point of view. Moreover, I was certain she’d enjoy being able to appreciate the result of her efforts.

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Afterward, Sachiko and I lay, legs and hands entwined.

“That was amazing, Sachiko. Thanks for waking me up.”

I agree. I understand your species' obsession with this 'sex' now.

…

Let me tell you; there is no faster way to come down from the high of sex than to realize the millennium-old youkai-lord, the Kyubi, was watching.