The Elysium Gardens [Open To All Uprights]

[Kouzetsu Gin]

Standing at the gate to greet all who enter and exit, the large, heavily armored Seraphim awaits all visitors, being the gatekeeper who can discern the purpose of all who visit this hallowed ground...

[Kouzetsu Gin]

[This post takes place at the conclusion of the investigation of the destruction at the Royal Estate of the Second Layer]

Standing there along side two well trained Earth Mages, Gin watched as the two reformed the giant slab of unrefined earth, into a beautiful, intricately carved image of Haruhi, the slain Vampire king of the Second. Satisfied at the sight before him, Gin dismissed the two, to remain in solace at the newly erected monument on his lonesome. "Despicable, she was not even a human, like the rest of the Seirei humans. Her position gained by nepotism on the part of Chiyo and Yamazaki family's connection is the exactly the type of whimpering weakness I seek to purge." Gin said to himself. As Gin stood there pondering things, a bereaved upright was not to far behind.

"This is ridiculous. Right after the 'Ha-ou' gives his speech, we get sacked. For all his promises, I lose my wife to some asshole." The angel said, approaching Gin. Standing next to Gin he continued his verbal assault. "Look at this abomination, a waste of stone if ya ask me. What did she do huh? I heard she wasn't even there when it all went down. If the damn lazy Ha-ou was here... I'd... I'd..." The man began, his voice breaking as he fell to his knees to weep somberly. "All he's done is get my wife killed, let's see your promises bring her back." The man continued, unaware that the target of his assault stand next to him.

Gin continued to let the man grieve, remaining silent. As the man regained his composure, he wiped his tears and stood to his feet. Turning to Gin, he spoke again. "You lose anybody that day, I mean, hell why else would you stand in front this joke's statue?" He asked.

"I lost 75 citizens, 1 king, 34 hours, 42 minutes, and 18 seconds of time that could have went to something more useful, and my credibility with you sir. I believe you should be alone, and I'll leave you to your grief ." Gin said, taken the ridicule sternly, turning to exit the gardens.

The man was taken aback by the crassness of his comments. "Ha-ou, I mean Kouzetsu-sama... I..." But it was too late, for Gin would not turn to face the man, exiting with Kohaku and Orenji awaiting him at the gate.

[sendo]

With a commonly seen smile and his little stuffed rabbit hanging in his left hand, the small stature of Koken Kobushi made it to the humbling sight of the garden's entrance. As with many things in the glorious layers of heaven, this place too was made to be a perfect sight. The freshly moved earth and stone smelled of heavens excellence and the young upright breathed in generously. With a subtle blink and a pause to gaze into the well molded place of peace Kobushi entered the garden. Upon entering he saw what he felt looked like the esteemed king of heaven. Though, unsure if he was right there was a moment of hesitation in him that allowed the Ha-ou to pass him too quickly. Kobushi turned to speak suddenly, his sudden urgent need to great the thing pulling him into a awkward twirl boosted by his control of force. After the sudden spin he floated a bit and hovered without much notice of it.

"Excuse me.. you would be Lord Kouzetsu correct. I haven't had the chance to meet you sir."

The young upright hoping his chance to introduce himself had not passed more or less relaxed. He floated about a foot off the ground, bringing him to around five feet, though not increasing the stature he held.

[Kouzetsu Gin]

Gin stopped in front of the boisterous Upright youth, having been dissatisfied with the erection of a monument to a King he felt deserved no accolades, and the subsequent questioning of his credibility as Ha-ou shortly after, Gin looked at the you man and stopped to address him. "Yes, I am Kouzetsu Gin, would there be something that I may help you with?" Gin asked, his showing no outward signs of anger, but his voice gave out a slight air of annoyance and exasperation at his dealing in the Sixth this day.

[Isurugi Mei]

Mei took the time from preparations she was making for upcoming events that were about to unfold to visit the Gardens. Ever since Gin became King, she had been busy as of late. She wanted to show Heaven that the people from the third were the best people in all of Heaven, even the ones who didn't originate from there.

She passed by an imposing guard and smiled nervously at him. She then saw Gin making his way toward her as if he was leaving but then stopped to address someone that grabbed his attention before making his exit. Mei thought it was good thing that they did or else she probably would have missed him. She made her way to him and kind of stood behind him to wait until he was done talking to whomever it was that was talking to him.

[Kouzetsu Gin]

Gin noticed not to far from the unintentionally intrusive youth before, that his comrade and friend, and subordinate Isurugi Mei. Gin looked back to the young Upright before and noticed a small pink toy, while he hovered off the ground. "Please, refrain from the use of magic in the place, in reverence for the deceased." Gin said, the young man's expression showing he wanted to seem not as diminutive to someone so high as the Ha-ou.

"Stand before me on you feet, for it is there we stand as equals, despite whatever gap in height or rank may exist. This is one place where being the Ha-ou is of little importance, I am a grieving Upright here like everyone else in my kingdom inside these gates." Gin said place in his hands behind his back.

[sendo]

Koken had begun to speak when he noticed the king walk past as if not intending to speak before pausing at the sight of another of heaven's fine leaders. Koken smiled pleasantly at the woman before his attention was returned to the ho-ou who had asked him to cease his use of his magic. Koken realized he was much to high and looked down mildly embarrassed by his absentminded disrespect. He lowed himself to the ground and looked up the the glorious new leader the heavens desperately needed with great zeal. He bowed and straightened, the pink rabbit in his hand flopping about freely as he did so.

"I am Koken Kobushi, head of the Suzaku no Ichizoku. I find that I have failed to introduce myself in good time, ad I apologize. My family would like to have you understand we are yours as any celestial force should be. I personally train my kinsmen, they will serve you well or die in the same fashion," Koken swore to Kouzetsu his and his families fealty as he knew was only right for the head of heaven to have it. Koken was raised a warrior first, before anything, and this was something he devoted his life to. His service to those that were deserving, and he felt the king of the realms of heaven deserved such. Though, even as he swore himself and all those under him to the ruler of the realms he felt it was too solemn a pledge in too dark a time.

"I offer you my fealty and will give my word and my service as I am sure you would it expect. I mean not to trample the serenity of this place however. This is a wonderful thing to do for our home Lord Kouzetsu, you are a great man to honor the fallen so.." he spoke in reverence, obviously speaking of fallen uprights, and not those lost to the disgrace of leaving heaven.

[Isurugi Mei]

Mei warmly smiled back at him before his attention was back on Gin's. She heard Gin telling him not to use magic and made it a mental note for herself. She didn't want to offend or disrespect anyone or anything here in Heaven, this was her home now.

Just then the young man introduced himself, then apologize for his disrespectful behavior. He then offered his fealty to the Ha-ou and he mentioned about the fallen, those who had died protecting Heaven and her people. Her mind race back to the events of the war that got her into Heaven. It was because of the many Celestials and Fae alike that given their lives in battle was she able to be here. Her face scrunched up thinking about it, she was really trying hard not to start crying.

She looked up and saw in the center of the Gardens was the statue of Haruhi, the only person who actually helped that day she went into Hell searching for the one responsible for the attempted assault at the wedding. That was the last she saw of Haruhi. She didn't even think that she made it out of there. Mei started to blame herself then, she felt it was her fault that she ended up gone. If she hadn't rushed in to Hell with all those letters that she sent to all her colleagues in short amount of time, leaving them very little time to prepare, Haruhi would still be here. All these thoughts were making it difficult for the fae to keep from crying, but she managed to just keep her eyes misty as she waited for Gin to finish his conversation with the young man now known as Koken Kobushi.

[Kouzetsu Gin]

Gin was impressed by both the maturity of a Celestial seemingly so young, as well as the reverence with which he spoke. Raising his hand in a warm gesture, Gin extended it to the young man, smiling in a manner to erase the minor annoyance he felt at the time, some of which was caused by the young man but still present regardless. He spoke in a respectful tone, and informed Gin that he was the head of the Suzaku Ichizoku, the royal line of the long since departed god, to whom Gin owed a small credit to for the creation of the e;element he had so core to revere.

"Kobushi, I am very fortunate to have your acquaintance, although I do sincerely wish that this meeting between you and I could have taken place somewhere a little less somber." Gin said to the young man. "Your eagerness is intriguing I must say, for you are the first representative of the respective Ichizoku to seek my out personal since my induction, for that I am both greatly impressed and respectful. As for the matter of you fealty, here is not the appropriate place for matters of discussion, so place come to my estate, there we can discuss what exactly you may provide in the service of your nation." Gin said, shaking the young man's hand firmly with one hand while reaching for a missive form within his robes pockets with the other.

It was then that Gin noticed Mei approaching, taking note that she remained a distance away yo offer Gin and the young man an air of privacy. Shaking the young man's hand, Gin broke the embrace before walking over to Mei. "To say that you are not someone I would not mind seeing right now would be the furthest thing from the truth, unless you to have come to pester me my dear Mei?" Gin said in a peculiar joking manner, his penchant for sarcasm marked by his usual smooth voice as he looked at Mei, standing before her.

[Isurugi Mei]

[You have some many typos in your post]

"Oh no, I'm only here to see the statue that was completed. Its just a nice coincidence that I would meet you here." She replied to Gin's question after he approached her.

She looked towards the statue. "I'm just here to pay my respects to Haruhi." She quickly directed her eyes towards the ground to prevent herself from crying. "I'm....I...feel guilty. If it wasn't for me, she wouldn't have gone to Hell to assist me. I tried so to get the others to show up. Only Haruhi showed up with a portion of her army. Setsuna never showed up but she did sent some of her troops.

"Ren, that traitor, he showed up but basically sat back and watched. He watched as me and Haruhi fought after are men were sealed away. My servants came as back up and they were doing more than he did."

She couldn't hold the tears any longer, they fell easily out her eyes. She shook violently trying to stop but she felt that it was her who physically killed her. "It all my fault. She was more dedicated to Heaven than all the other Kings. She was willing to help a fellow King in need to right the wrongs that Hell was responsible for." She wanted to say more but she felt that anything else would have been nonsense if it wasn't already.