The Protector and The Mentor(Rio/Erchhardt)

Earth was a pleasant realm to inhabit for a Shinigami. Rio certainly didn't detest the universe or what was housed within it. There were so many treasures to find here and chief among them was her fondness for the piano. She had recalled spending an extended time on earth to get her mind in order and came away with more than she bargained for. The joy of playing a graceful instrument that followed the movements and melody of your fingers was nothing short of euphoric.

This particular time didn't involve any trips to play the piano. After all, her appearance on earth had been months in the making - to meet a man who helped keep Yugiri afloat when no one else could. She had never met the man personally and she saw to it to change that.


As such, she had sent a letter to Yugiri to give to him so that he could meet her within a jazzy bar that had a piano. There weren't many guests today - which meant that the Shihoin Aegis could easily indulge in playing her favorite pieces of music on that grand musical instrument.


Her outfit was rather tame, as she sported a white long sleeve shirt with a black jacket and a pair of black jeans. Sunglasses were on her eyes but whenever the man entered, he would definitely notice the woman from the way Yugiri described her. She'd hoped at least.

It was not innately unusual that Duke Konigsberg was invited to meet with another noble. It had, at one time, been an all too regular occurrence. But, of course, in these days there were rather few nobles to meet with, at least among the living. Then again, this was not a typical meeting. Erchanhardt was here wholly for personal reasons, far removed from any sort of noble requirements, and in that sense he had to concede that he was a bit unused to the idea.

No sooner than he had entered the chosen venue, Erchanhardt suspected he already knew who it was that he was meeting here. Even without Yugiri's description, he likely could have discerned her identity with ease. It was in the little details, the way she carried herself, that made her status as both a shinigami and a noble rather apparent in such a quiet place as this. The visual similarities to her cousin were, ultimately, secondary in the equation.

Removing his sunglasses as a matter of courtesy, Erchanhardt approached the foreign woman with purposeful strides, and offered her a cordial nod as he arrived next to the piano and its player.

"Good day, Lady Shihoin."

The man of the hour had arrived, entering the bar with a composed stride as he approached her. His frame was tall and imposing - yet far from one that seemed anything but peaceful. Stepping beside her and the piano, Erchanhardt finally introduced himself. Removing his glasses, he presented himself with a level of class that left her rather impressed. Removing her own sunglasses in return, she smiled and introduced herself as well.

"There is no need to be so cordial, Erchanhart. You can call me Rio if you wish. I wasn't certain if this was a location you preferred. I apologize for only thinking of myself in that regard but hey, at least you get to see something even my sisters have yet to see," she'd playfully joke as she tapped at the piano key.


"Of course, I didn't invite you to simply show you how much of a virtuoso I am on the piano. I came to meet you, talk with you, and above all, thank you for being a positive influence on Yugiri's life.

"I have no distaste for the venue, though I would concede it is likely not where I would have chosen myself. But it is pleasant."

Taking a seat in the nearest chair, Erchanhardt contemplated the situation for a bit. There were a great many things that this meeting might feasibly be about, though admittedly the context of her relationship to Yugiri made things less concerning than they might otherwise have bee. Ah, now she was elaborating. Were he a younger man, he might have flushed a bit at her kind words, but at his age he simply smiled a touch.

"I am honored to be considered in such a way, Rio, but I feel I must make it clear that it has been a mutual effort. Yugiri has been a blessing, and I have certainly grown tremendously by having her in my company."

Rio appreciated Erchanhardt's honesty. He was not the type of a man who spoke with dishonest mannerisms. Everything from the way he moved to his gaze was undeniably genuine.

She had wanted to meet him for such a long time but duties to her family had grew overwhelmingly high ever since the passing of her father. Even so, it was pleasant to finally be within this man's company. She would not waste the opportunity to impress him and even learn from something this studious soul that stood beside her.

Listening to him intently, Rio raise an eyebrow out of sheer fascination. Ah, so it seemed as though there was a mutual influence the two had on one another? That filled Rio's heart with happiness. Truly, she was all the more proud of her cousin whom she lovingly called sister.


"Hearing you say that makes me all the more proud of my sister, Erchanhardt. I am happy to hear she has left a lasting impression on such a studious man. Oh, I forgot to ask... are you hungry? I can order us something if you wished to speak over a meal."

"Mm? No, thank you. I keep a rather tight schedule for my daily goings on. I've already eaten, though coffee or the like would do."

Even something as simple as when he ate was but one more facet of life to be watched with care, regimented, controlled. Could he have enjoyed a meal here? Certainly. But even something as small as this would be to give into the Will. On principle alone, he could not abide it.

"She is a woman worthy of being proud of, though I suspect she would not especially relish being told as much directly. She will likely achieve things that I myself could only dream of. I should hope that I am still present when she does so, though I do not imagine leaving her life any time soon."

He spoke so casually, and yet so assuredly on the topic. It was true, of course. He admired Yugiri, saw in her character what he suspected relatively few could. Though he may not have been the sort to say such in as many words, she meant a great deal to him.

Rio nodded respectfully as she turned back to him and decided only to order something for herself considering she hadn't eaten before she arrived. Still, she made note to order him a cup of coffee while she ordered herself a simple cheeseburger and fried. It wasn't spectacular but it'd do for now. It didn't really suit the bar but they made note to serve food in case people didn't indulge in your typical cup of coffee or an alcoholic drink.

While she waited for the waitress to bring her orders, she continued her conversation with the Erchandardt. He was certainly leaving a fine impression on her. No wonder Yugiri held a level of respect for him. From his tall frame to his gentlemanly tone, he was someone who invited respect through his aura alone. There was a certain air of charisma to him that left her almost speechless - as though she were speaking to a wise man well beyond his years.


Even his humility was graciously admirable.

"Indeed, Yugiri has never been one to take compliments in stride. Whenever I've done so, she always feels as if she is undeserving of such praise but to handle my father's banishment with grace - I have nothing but the highest admiration for her. Not even I think I would've handled what she has endured with as much class as she has. That said, I would hope you are present. Just meeting you... I can tell that there is a wise air about you that would make anyone feel at peace."

The order of coffee and Rio's food would arrive. Rio nodded her head and paid the bill while she turned back to the studious man and continued.

"How is that you two happened to meet, anyway?"

"Ah, you are too kind. I am an old man, and the years simply impart these lessons to all with time. I do not think I am so tremendously more wise than others might be."

The coffee cup looked rather small in Erchanhardt's hand, and he found it almost amusing if he was being perfectly honest. He supposed it was emblematic of his greater place in the world, that he was generally a man out of touch, out of place in the world of today. It was pleasant to have been given purpose once more.

"She came through my lands during her travels, in search of work. I was willing to provide it. She and I simply found that we had much in common, and she chose to stay with me. It was nothing one might call a destined meeting, but it is nevertheless a memory I will always cherish."

As Rio nibbled politely on her burger, she listened to Erchanhardt's story of how he and Yugiri crossed paths. Even as she was eating, she found herself moved by how they were able to connect. As simplistic as their meeting was, the Shihoin protector was pleased to know that it was consummated into a friendship between the two.

Although Rio had never sought to impose herself on Yugiri's life, she always worried about how life would be for her on earth. If you landed in the right environment, you could essentially live a life free of worries. If you landed in an environment where the cards weren't in your favor? A troublesome path awaits. Grateful that Yugiri's environment happened to be the former, Rio continued to sing the man's praises.


"Again, you have my gratitude. Ahh, looking back on her banishment, I feel so foolish now. I was so afraid of when Yugiri was sent away that I nearly thought of risking my position in the Shihoin family to bring her back home. Out of all of us, I always thought she would struggle the most with adapting to this realm. It would seem as though my worries were all for not."


Rio curiously tilted her head as she wished to know more about the man standing before her.

"Even so, my curiosity remains centered on you. As Shinigami, we have experienced many things on earth - be it missions or a large-scale battle to maintain a spiritual balance between the realms - we've all walked this plane before. Even I have visited and spent days in this world before. As a man who has lived his entire life on this earth, would you tell me more about your story? If I seem intrusive, you can easily decline and we can speak of something else."

Rio did not wish to come off as anything but polite or well-mannered. Her curiosity to know of what earth was like through the eyes of a wise soul was far too alluring to pass up, after all.

"I think Yugiri would be quite remiss at the idea that you would look back with back with regret. She is a willful woman, but one who, in my view, is quite capable of accepting the truth of the past. I suspect she would not relish the thought of being kept from seeking her own path."

Looking into the coffee for a moment, Erchanhardt contemplated how best to answer her query. After all, there were a great many things he had yet to convey even to Yugiri. She had shared much with him, and yet he, by contrast, had entrusted her with little. Perhaps he might simply say the topic had never arisen, but he still remembered clearly that she had asked him long ago.

In truth, he simply feared her response.

ah, but he was allowing himself to be caught up in his thoughts. If he stayed silent much longer, it might even have created a notable silence. He did not wish to shift the mood of the conversation, and so instead he simply offered Rio an unassuming, polite smile.

"I do not mind sharing stories of my life, of course. I have often passed the hours with Yugiri by telling her such tales. I should make clear, however, that I have lived for a rather long while. I could not share my life's story in a single sitting, even if I wished to do so."