Before this chapter starts I would like to apologize for the lack of updates and second a retcon of sorts;

Remember Bartory the so and so vampire chick from chapter 12, well she was made to be a Vampire subclass of Succubus

Chapter 21
Bros and Pincers

It's been a week and a half since Sophia, Rea and Saeko said their goodbyes and even with the plus two added to the household everything's been peachy, even more so today since I'm the only one at home. Shuko and Cthylla are both at work and Jhastlyn is somewhere, no idea where but there are times she just vanishes.

Okay so I'm not completely by myself, Ylla, Cthylla's faithful companion is here but she's like a lazy dog and mostly napping, so, for the most part, I'm alone, something I haven't been since the first night I moved here.

With my newfound isolation, I decided to clean up the house, though the house doesn't get that bad, there are some places that don't get as much attention during the average busy work week. Unfortunately for me, those places were few and far between as I soon found myself with nothing to do.

With a sigh, I thought about taking one up with the eldritch canine and taking a nap myself but as I felt my conscious slipping there was a knock at the door.

*knock-knock-knock*

As I heard the beckoning sounds from the door I thought to myself that I wasn't expecting any guest today and Suri was at school and I'm sure Shuko would have mentioned something if she were to have a guest, so maybe it's a salesman, best to ignore it then.

*BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG*

The sounds of knocking suddenly got much harsher and with a much faster pace, I guess this salesman is really desperate, I spoke to myself as Ylla opened an eye to see whether or not I was going to get the door and get rid of the presence that was disturbing her nap.

As I walked to the door I asked who was it because I'm not dumb enough to just open the door without checking to see who is there, but the response I got was surely not one I was expecting.

"OPEN THE DAMN DOOR, GIN, HURRY!"

Shouted a voice I had heard but only once before though less panicked, and since technically I knew the guy (I guess) I opened the door.

As the door opened, I was greeted by the deshelled appearance of my now not-brother-in-law. His shoulder-length pale silver hair was unkempt and his face was covered in sweat, as though he were in the middle of running a marathon. His white button-up shirt and stole (the scarf from his initial appearance) had some leaves in it almost like he had been running from tree to tree.

"Um, are you-"

But before I could get a word in he put his hand in front of my face as if to say quiet before wiping his face with his stole then balling it up before launching it far off in the distance, a queer action if I ever saw one, before rushing me into the house and closing the door.

"You, you know where the bathroom is, so go wash up and I'll lend you one of my shirts, then we'll talk about what's going on."

I spoke, still confused on the subject on what could possibly put him in such a condition, Shinji himself taking my words to heart headed on down the hall and into the bathroom.

As I heard the water start running I started to head towards the staircase when-

*Ding-dong*

The doorbell rang followed by shuffling in the bathroom.

"Shit! Oy, if they're looking for me tell'em I'm not here."

Shinji spoke, though why would anyone be looking for him at Shuko's place… unless he brought trouble with him, I facepalmed, he always dressed like one of those yakuza types, probably a deal gone wrong, and now I'm harboring a thug. I mean he is family, sort of, and ohana meaning etc, etc but how often does this happen to anyone let alone me, it's kind of exciting.

"Will do."

I spoke, heading to the door.

"Who is it?"

I asked as I heard the sounds of shuffling then sniffing sounds before the sounds of footsteps left, from what I could tell were at least two or three people, well whom/whatever was on the other side of the door disembarked at a rather quick pace.

As I creaked open the door, I noticed that no one was there, not even after I fully opened the door to look up and down the street.

Once I closed the door, I felt a hand drop itself on my shoulder, which caused me to jump, shocking me and the owner of the hand.

"What was that for, you startled me half to death!"

I spoke, with Shinji who apparently rushed through whatever washing up he did, seeing as his upper body was still wet.

"Only half? Well anyway did anyone ask for me? Also, where's the shirt?"

"No, whoever was at the door must have had the wrong address, and at least dry off completely before rushing out the bathroom."

I spoke, ignoring the "half" portion of his comment, as I headed to my room and handed him one of my shirts as well as grabbing a cup of water.

As we sat in the living room, there was an annoying silence between us as the only sound present was that of the television.

"So, you gonna tell me what happened to you?"

I spoke, seeing as he didn't seem like he would tell me otherwise, though what came out his mouth wasn't the words I was looking for.

With a sigh, Shinji spoke,

"It's all your fault anyway."

The moment he said that my head tilted on reflex, how was I supposed to know that my reputation as Mad Banshee Gin was so notorious in this day and age, that was sarcasm. If this weren't a nani dafaq situation, I clearly don't know what is.

"How so?"

I asked inquisitively as he cut his eyes my way, I really wanted to hear how I was the cause of his gangsta problems.

"After mom paid her visit, she kept telling her friends about how Shuko how found a "nice and humble" husband for herself and she hopes Rea can find someone like that when she's older and how I should find me a partner soon."

Shinji spoke, though I'm not seeing how this relates, I mean where there a group meeting where all the local liminal yakuza (if that's a thing, I hope there is, let it be run by a honey badger liminal) are all in attendance and then one of the major houses ask if anyone knew of the whereabouts of Mad Banshee Gin, and you were like, "know him? He's my brother-and-law!"

"Well word continued to spread amongst her circle and like the Telephone game words got switched around, and it just so happened that it caught the ears of one particular woman, and now I'm being chased by her with thoughts on dating with the intentions on getting married."

Shinji spoke, and there went my awesome yakuza tale, Shinji, you could have just lied but no, if you don't want to date the woman just tell her.

"Well did you tell her you weren't interested?"

I asked, only because it just seemed like an easier thing to do, rather than run away from her.

"Like I haven't!"

Shinji snarled.

"But when that Old Bag heard about her pursuit, she found the whole affair humorous and on her own created a one-sided rendezvous, which I'm sure almost cost me my life."

Shinji continued as he felt around his neck, though only slightly, I could see a slight red marking, and now I'm interested again and somewhat sympathetic.

"Leaving the nature of the, well I can't call her anything without it being on the rude side, but I'm sure Sophia just wants you to be happy."

I spoke, though in all honesty, it might only be half she wants you to be happy and the other half kicks at your expense.

"Maybe, I could kind of see your way, if I didn't know her, she even knows I already like someone yet she's trying to pair me with someone else."

Shinji spoke and there it was, for my throat was parched and but then you offered me juice.

"There's someone you like?"

"What's it to you, also what's with the ice?

"Ice? I'm sure it's just frozen water."

"No idiot! Talking about the necklace."

Shinji retorted, talking about the pendant I had received from my aforementioned mother-in-law during golden week. Explaining it so, I saw a look of questioning as it appeared Shinji were mentally debating should he or shouldn't he.

After a few moments of silence, Shinji opened his mouth.

"Can you keep this a secret?"

"Cross my heart."

With a high roll in either deception or persuasion.

"Fine, I guess I can tell you, but I won't tell you her name, I'll just describe her."

"Fair enough."

I agreed, though Him keeping the name hush-hush made me think that either I knew who this person was or could find a way to this person.

"Okay, she's got eyes as green as ripened lime and more fierce than any storm-"

Alright so angry super saiyan eyes.

"-long flowy hair as black as licorice and triangular ears as dark as her hair-"

Long black hair and ears, got it.

"-and covered in a rich copper coat."

"She has got to be one beautiful woman."

I spoke, though in my head I can only think of Sadako went to the department store and bought a nice coat before training with our favorite saiyan from earth along with the prince of all saiyans in order to obtain super saiyan, but that's just dumb.

"She is!"

Shinji voiced with a smile on his face.

As Shinji was stuck in his rose-colored imagination, a figure appeared in the in the glass behind Shinji. She was clearly female, with long black hair, eyes of green and currently extremely focused and her six legs, tail, claws, and skin were of the bronze persuasion.

I take it back, she is quite the attractive woman, completely different from S.S.J. Sadako.

"Hey Shinji, the woman you were talking about is right behind you."

I spoke, though why would she be at this house, let alone in the backyard of this house is beyond me, but who am I to stand in the way of love.

As Shinji turned himself toward the glass door behind him, he jumped as if startled, the smile he had on his face was traded with a look of exasperation.

"Oh Shinji-love, let me in."

She spoke, with a smile on her face.

"DON'T LET HER IN!"

Shinji protested as he gave me a look between a plea for help and a command from a superior.

"Oh don't be like that, I'll find my way in one way or another."

She spoke as she began tapping on the glass, making me wonder what she was up to.

"Um, Shinji isn't this the woman you were talking about?"

I pondered aloud which increased the dismay on his look while the look on her face brightened.

"ARE YOU DAFT!? WHAT ABOUT WHAT I SAID LOOKS ANYTHING LIKE THAT!?"

Shinji roared, except for the fact that she is the spitting image of what you described, or at the least far better then what I imagined.

"Oh, Shinji! To think you were talking about little ol' me, now let's leave the nice man alone and continue our date."

She continued to speak, still tapping on the glass.

"GIN, DO NOT LET HER IN."

Shinji protested one last time, as I gave a confused look.

"Well you do like to play hard to get, so I'll just let myself in."

She spoke as she tapped on the glass door one final time, before wrapping her arm and hand which as opposed to Shuko and Shinji lacked the exoskeleton-like armor so it was more human-like in the fabric that Shinji tossed before entering the house and cocked back aiming to strike at the door.

It was at that time I had to make a decision; Option A: Have her break the glass, though I would garner some respect from Shinji for taking his side, I'm sure Shuko wouldn't like the fact that I allowed someone to destroy a part of her house. Option B: Allow her in the house, saving me from Shuko's wraith, but earning the resentment of Shinji.

"Hold on a second! I'll let you in."

I yelled as I could see her fist begin to tighten in anticipation of the impact with the glass.

"Thank you/THE HELL!"

Both the woman and Shinji expressed their feelings about my choice.

"Just head to the front door, I'll let you in."

I spoke, and as if my approval was the starting shot, she bolted to the front door. Unfortunately, as she left the view the glass window allowed me, I felt a strong force grab me by the color and hoist me up.

"ET TU GIN, TO THINK YOU WOULD BETRAY ME!"

Shinji voiced his disapproval of my choice in a manner in the most civil of manners.

"Lemon and black cherries?"

Ah, I knew I would remember at the most inopportune of times.

"THE HELL'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?"

Shinji angrily asked, though what I said made no sense in this situation or any at all, unless we were talking jell-o.

"Shush. Look I can hold her off for a few minutes while you leave out the back now that you know her current location you can probably figure out the best way to get some distance from her, right?"

I spoke, as Shinji pondered for a second before releasing me and giving me a mischievous grin.

"I got you, I got you. You're sacrificing yourself to buy the hero the time needed to escape."

Yeah sure, Hero let's go with that, I thought as Shinji began heading toward the glass door, reaching for the mechanism that allowed the door to slide open.

"Coming."

I spoke, reassuring the six-legged woman I was on my way to the door, as Shinji made his way out of the door.

As I opened the door, the six-legged woman brushed passed me and walked straight in. Oh please come in, I thought sarcastically to myself.

Walking up to the six-legged woman, I spoke.

"Um, hello-"

"Where's Shinji?"

Yes, let us not stand on ceremony.

"My guess is probably the bathroom."

I spoke, hopefully, she wasn't the type to barge in there.

"That makes sense, though if you don't mind me asking, who are you?"

"Yeah, that's my question to you."

I spoke, as I watched the woman eyed me up and down before it looked like some type of bulb went off in her head.

"Ah, you're Shuko's hubby, Aunt Sophi talked about you with my mother and me-"

I hope they were good things.

"Well allow me to introduce myself, I'm Vah'lilu a Girtablilu, basically a desert scorpion liminal. I'm one of Shuko's oldest friends, we're basically sisters."

Vah'lilu spoke, quite proud of her status of being one of Shuko's oldest friends.

"Nice to meet you Vah'lilu, I'm Gin, it's rare that I get to meet one of Shuko's childhood friends."

I spoke, seeing as this was a first, but Vah'lilu gave me a confused look.

"That's odd, I'd have figured you would have met Ailuros by now."

It was at that moment I remembered the feline comrade of Shuko's who I met way back when, as well as the person Shinji has feelings for.

"So if you don't mind, Shinji's been in the bathroom for a bit, and I'm concerned."

Vah'lilu spoke, and I had to act quickly so I pulled out my phone and began to read aloud.

"Hey Gin, something came up, had to go, tell Shuko I said hello. Seems something came up, and he also told me to tell you hello as well."

I blatantly lied, and by the looks of it, Vah'lilu wasn't buying it.

"Is that so, doesn't matter, I have Aunt Sophy's blessing so I can meet him whenever."

Vah'lilu spoke as she placed the stole (turns out it's not called a scarf but a stole, so I'll change that in earlier chapters at a later date) around her shoulders.

"Did you want to stay until Shuko gets back?"

I asked but she put her hand up in refusal.

"That'll be okay, I'm sure I can catch up to Shinji if I leave now, so I'll head out."

Vah'lilu spoke, as she headed to the glass door leading to the backyard, before walking back to me.

"Oh yeah, let me give you my number, I'm sure you would like to hear stories about Shuko's springtime of youth."

She mused as she pulled out a phone.

"Sure, and I'll let you know when Shinji visits next, catch him off guard."

"That's a fair trade."

Vah'lilu spoke, as we exchanged numbers and I saw her out.

I looked at the new number registered under the name Lilu, seems like I gained a new social link, can't wait to tell Shuko that her friend stopped by.