One of us (shugo)

[Mathew Amtrum]

The stone walls of Paladin territory was easy enough for Mathew to bypass. He simply walked through them simply because he could. Though he made sure to mend any cracks that may have been in the wall as well. A gesture of good will.

Today he was not on a mission of war, despite his personal distaste for who he was coming to meet. But he could put that behind him, he needed to. The time for old grudges to fester was over. The enemy was a Hydra and he would need all the swords and shields he could find to hold it while he killed the beast once and for all. Which is why with some reluctance Mathew found himself knocking on the door of Yuy Manor...

[Date Masamune™]

As Mathew would easily circumvent the wall's defenses, those on watch duty would start whispering amongst themselves. They had al heard of the man with the power to control Earth itself. They had not, however, seen this man's abilities for themselves. They were awestruck.

"That's the Earth Dragon..."

"Should we stop him?"

"No way!"

"Someone should tell Shugo..."

They were all paralyzed with fear. Not that it mattered though, whatever damages that the Earth Dragon had caused, he immediately rectified.

An older gentleman would answer the door once Mathew knocked. This was Jeeves, Shugo's butler and number 2 in charge, though a lot of the times it seemed like Jeeves was running the show.

"Please come in, Sir."

Jeeves would step aside to allow Mathew into the Manor. Jeeves knew of the Earth Dragon. He knew of the discontent Mathew and Shugo felt towards each other, but he also knew that Mathew was not an enemy.

As Jeeves would step aside, he would also reveal Shugo who was on the floor currently being jumped on by some of the younger kids from the manor. One of them also happened to be pulling on his cheeks to put his face in a giant smile while another jumped on his stomach. The boy would speak with jumbled words due to his cheeks being pulled on.

"Maffew wat are you doin' ere?"

[Mathew Amtrum]

"Apparently disturbing a very important training scenario."

He said with a small snort of a laugh and a very genuine smile. He liked kids. Kids and animals. It was the adults that caused him to get angry. The fact that kids were here playing with this baffoon of a man, well it just reinforce why Mathew wanted this.

"Shall I wait for you to conclude your session before we speak business? Or are they also your advisors?"

He asked with another impish grin. Taking a spot against the wall he folded his arms and watched with interest what would happen next.

[Date Masamune™]

"Best advisors I've got."

Shugo would grin. It was an odd feeling at first getting along with Mathew but these rare moments of peace needed to be cherished.

"Ahhemmm."

Jeeves wasn't very subtle with clearing his throat. Shugo would lift the kids off of him and stand up.

"Second to you of course Jeeves. Guys let's take five. I've got a guest. We'll play again later. Why don't you see what Shinn's up to?"

"I'll go prepare refreshments. Would you like anything in particular Sir? Instant orange juice or instant fruit punch?"

Jeeve's question would be directed to Mathew and once he would give a reply, Jeeves would be off to the kitchen to get drinks.

"Let's head over to my office. Something tells me that you need to talk."

Shugo would lead Mathew to his office, which used to be the study the manor had before the war. Now it served as both Shugo's sleeping quarters and his office. A small makeshift bed could be seen in the far corner and different maps and papers would be scattered all across his desk. Shugo would clear some books off of one of the arm chairs for Mathew.

[Mathew Amtrum]

"Just water will be fine. Please and thank you."

He said with a small bow of his head to Jeeves. Rule one. Never piss off a butler. He has seen enough anime to know that. Well, prior to the Barker bombs of course. Following Shugo in to the study he allowed himself to look around the room, noting the bed in the corner.

"I've come to make you an offer."

He said as he took the offered seat. He was just going to cut to the chase. He saw no reason to stand on ceremony or beat around the bush with Shugo. They were not friends, but they have known each other for a very long time.

"You have a limited number of resources, your land is being surrounded by ours which will make it harder to gather new resources. You have few soldiers and Barker is growing more aggressive."

He paused to let him register all that.

"I'm here to offer you a chance to peacefully merge your holdings with ours. The Children will be protected, you will all have access to our supplies, and have all of the rights that every other citizen has in our lands."

[Date Masamune™]

"Sounds like a plan to me."

Shugo crossed his arms.

"As far as supplies go. We get most of ours delivered from out of California. But the added protection would be great. I've been having to go out to the wall way too many times lately."

The boy would sit down on the corner of his desk as he paused.

"Your Dragons and allies will have full access to AURA territory as the Crows already do. All I ask is for some additional guards for the walls and our two settlements, the Manor and the town."

The town he was referring to was part of the city that AURA had spread out into and re-inhabited. It wasn't a very large area, but the people were starting to create normal lives again there.

"Besides that, I'm willing to share our facilities like the housing we've created and the rest of our supplies as well."

[Mathew Amtrum]

"Oh I'm not just talking about access. I mean full on merging. I will personally induct you in to the Dragons myself even. Because you are worth the special touch."

Because being granted access meant that access could be taken away. He didn't like to make plans with those kinds of variables. Because it would go awry at the worst possible time.

"The children will be counted as civilians though, and will not have to do anything special."

[Date Masamune™]

"I've also got other civilians at the Manor and at the Town. Those that want to fight can. But I want the rest of them to treated as civilians as well. They take care of other duties around the Manor and at the Town. The rest of the Defenders and I will be your attack force. If we can do that, we can merge our forces into one and the Neutral Nation of Aura will be part of the Dragon's Nation."

Shugo wanted to make sure that those who would rather choose peace and those that weren't strong enough to fight would not have to.

"As far as the Dragon's title goes... I'm honored really. As a kid at 552 I wanted nothing more than to be able to call myself a Dragon. But as I am right now... Well I want this war to be over and put my gauntlets away, forever. Not much of a Dragon if all I want is to stop fighting."

[Mathew Amtrum]

"Agreed, the Civilians will be allowed to stay as such. Though to be clear it is not a titled Dragon position like my own or the other elders. You want that then you need to earn it the same as anyone else."

He leaned forward in his chair and would extend a hand to Shugo.

"But the rest I think we can do."

[Date Masamune™]

"Good. I'll be part of the Dragon's forces, but I'm staying the Knight."

Shugo would grasp Mathew's hand and shake it.

"It appears you gentleman have come to an agreement."

Jeeves would step into the study with drinks. He would clear off a part of the table and set down the drinks handing them to their owners.

"Jeeves. Say hello to our new partners. From today on, Aura is officially part of the Dragons."

[Mathew Amtrum]

He shook Shugo's hand with a smile. Things were moving along nicely, and he even had a job lined up for him. Once he was bled in of course.

"Thank you."

He said with another bow of his head when the drinks got there.

"I like to work fast. Welcome to the Dragons though. Not only will we win this, but we will keep your people safe."

/end?