Elwur's Date with Yutsuko

On one morning, not long after Elwur's slaughter of Matoi Corp officials, Yutsuko read the letter she just received from said company with wide eyes of disbelief, her mouth flapping like a goldfish.

"E-Elwur, are you s-seeing this?" She asked, jittery like a parrot, "T-They're giving me six months' worth of pay, a thirty-day break from work, and even tickets for two to a trip to one of the most prestigious ryokans in all of Kobe Prefecture!?"

One could forgive Yutsuko for shrieking like a crow given current circumstance; ever since the corruption scandal that erupted, Matoi Corp's credit ratings took a nosedive, and the slaughtering of all its corrupt leadership, shareholders and lackeys left the company rudderless in the water, and the remaining staff scrambled to do damage control.

Then a mysterious company calling itself the Kurohyou Corp, suddenly popping out of nowhere, began purchasing all the shares of the company and sending talented and loyal staff to fill in all the vacancies one by one. They won over all the workers with generous salaries, compensation and off-day bonuses for unpaid leave, and even guaranteed medical insurance, among other beneficial policies. In return, they mandated a certain number of staff to ensure efficient rotational shifts and to avoid the burden of overwork on the staff.

Overworked employees swiftly received treatment and received company orders to fulfil their medical leave as condition for them to go back to work, and all medical expenses were paid. Police and government forces investigated the company, only to be befuddled at how legitimate every single one of their actions and records were, as if the entire backstory was perfectly fabricated with not a single mistake to speak off. As if to add to their headaches, their bank accounts looked like nothing out of the ordinary, but the wealth they threw around suggested their finances were far more glutted than they cared to admit.

Yutsuko, who had grown far too used to the toxic work culture of both Black Companies and the Japanese workforce in general, was understandably shaken, believing it far too good to be true.

Elwur, on the other hand, instantly knew who was behind this.

'Toshetuyek always loves going over the top...

The Grandmaster of the Kurokyou made no secret of her desire to accumulate power both in Amdai, and judging by her recent actions, that ambition extended to earth. Furthermore, the tactics she used - winning over downtrodden workers and acquiring old business assets - was all part of her grab for power in the Empire of Roshuk when the old Shogunate of Hi no Moto fell. As a result, she became far too beneficial and powerful of a faction for others to simply oppose. Perhaps she wished to regain power as the leader of a country, perhaps she wished to right the wrongs of Japan, he could not say for certain.

All he knew was that Toshetuyek saw opportunity and exploited it as an opportunist would.

"Do the tickets specify an expiry date, or a booked date for travel?" Elwur questioned.

"Um, let's see..." Yutsuko squinted on the tickets, then said, "Ah, there's no specific booked date, but according to the letter we can book any date we wish and then hand in these tickets to the reception to pay for our booking. That, and these tickets pay for an entire week's stay for each person."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Elwur suggested, "Let us go on holiday - the two of us."

"W-Wait, you want to book a date now!?" Yutsuko exclaimed, "B-But it's way too soon, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around all this, and I haven't decided what sights to see, and-"

"Yutsuko."

Elwur's voice cut through Yutsuko's emotional high, and she felt the Dark Elf place comforting hands on her shoulders.

"Do not overthink it, just breathe in and exhale, let everything out," He suggested, "We have time to plan, time to enjoy."

Yutsuko did as Elwur suggested, and she breathed in and out, letting all the stresses of today, of all the years of mind-breaking work at the unscrupulous mercy of her Black Company bosses, leave her body like leeches from open wounds. As she did, she suddenly felt exceedingly light-headed, and she fell into the strong, comforting arms of his Elf lover.

Tears sprang forth unbidden, and she buried her face into his shoulders, sobbing loudly as she finally comprehended her liberation from the forces of evil.

Elwur simply hugged her, saying nothing as she melted into his embrace, his hand stroking her head like a kitten.

Once she finished crying her heart out, Yutsuko was busy blowing her nose and wiping her tears with tissues, creating a mountain of trash.

"Oh dear God, I'm so sorry you had to see me like this," She apologised, "I'm a grown adult, and yet I'm crying like a little girl."

"Strong men and women are never afraid to cry," Elwur gently asserted, "Do not depreciate yourself."

"Haha, I kinda wish others said the same thing like you," Yutsuko weakly laughed, "Sometimes I really hate how Japanese society's so merciless on the weak."

Yutsuko finished wiping her tears, then proceeded to embrace Elwur, burying her face in his shoulder again.

"You know, I really wish I met you earlier," She muttered, eyes turning wistful, "Then Toraemon wouldn't have to grow up without a father, and we wouldn't have to suffer so much."

"...Even when a family has everything it needs, it does not guarantee eternal bliss," Elwur said, "Enjoy the peace while it lasts; I guarantee nothing lasts forever."

"Are you... speaking from experience?" Asked Yutsuko.

Elwur slowly nodded, the eyes of a man who has seen too much bearing down upon the blissfully ignorant Yutsuko like a buddha's gaze. The hard core of steel in his molten orbs of gold, his tattooed, chiseled face bearing countless sorrowful memories writ upon his eyebrow. Yutsuko touched his arms, and here and there she would feel a slight unevenness in the skin - scars of battles past - his titles of nobility and sagely wisdom.

Yutsuko tightened the hug, wishing that she could heal all his hurts and make them go away. Her nose picked the faint scent of herbs and spices, oft the herald of delicious meals being cooked in the kitchen.

"Could you come to the ryokan trip with me, please?" She suddenly asked.

"Of course," Elwur nodded without hesitation.

Yutsuko had to admit, she loved how direct and decisive he was.

"Then let's choose a date to book together, shall we?" She suggested.

For Elwur, no further words needed to be said.