Page 135 of Xerxes Ascendant
And then it was Akira’s turn. He opened his mouth to speak Rho’s name – she was right, someone had to break the stalemate – but his Dominant’s fingers dug warningly into his shoulder.
“Master Epsilon,” Kyle announced.
“You don’t get a vote, Mr. Randall.”
“But House Epsilon does,” said Sir. “And it votes for Master Epsilon.”
Akira was unable to object, kept silent by the rules he’d been given. And which had been reinforced not only by the large plug rubbing insistently against his prostate but also by the wordless reminder of the handheld cattle prod that Kyle had unexpectedly relinquished in the frisk search upon their entry to the building, determinedly not looking at Akira as if pretending to be fucking innocent. Innocent, while walking around with a device to punish him with.Cute.
And while Kyle had given Akira a voice in the meeting up until now – askingwhat do you think, Master?each time, to give the impression of subservience to his employer when it was anything but – this time he didn’t address him directly, impeding his ability to speak.
So Akira gave the table a mild, bland smile, and didn’t say a word.
“Master Lambda,” said Lambda.
Akira inwardly groaned. They’d have to call a new vote and spend hours testing Kyle’s stubbornness against the self-aggrandising arrogance of the Masters, and-
“Master Epsilon,” said Master Nu.
There was a long, stunned silence.
“I...beg your pardon,” Omicron said, blinking fast. “Did you just-”
“Epsilon may be the youngest of our number,” Nu declared, “but that only proves his political acumen. He’s done a lot of impressive work with his House over the last five years. And he’s certainly proven he has the guts to stand up to a Mackenroth, unlike the rest of us.”
That last part was muttered darkly, as much of a chastisement to themselves as it was to the other Masters. Clearly Nu was harbouring some guilt about how everything had transpired.
The Coterie descended into low murmurs, but as Akira stiffened uncomfortably, he realised they weren’t all disparaging. Omicron was displeased, of course, believing himself the unofficial head of their organisation, and Sigma’s sharp face was clouded in disappointment. But there were whispers of encouragement, of agreement, of congratulations, and by all the burning balls of gas in the night sky, Akira hadnotjust been elected mayor.
Had he?
“Mayor Epsilon of Nitobe!” Kyle hollered excitably, killing those doubts in an instant in that decisively frank way of his. He scooped Akira into a tight hug from behind that lifted him from his chair and jostled the plug. Akira bit back his moan. “Master, I’m so happy for you!”
This time it wasn’t just Kyle’s standing order that rendered Akira mute. Shock, and a significant dosing of fear, had stolen his tongue.
It still had hold of him an hour later, when the meeting began to wrap up. None of the Masters could be as visibly pleased with his election as Kyle, whose beaming smile still stretched proudly across his face, but neither did they voice the doubts Akira himself held as they talked through what his mayoral responsibilities would be. Did they really believe he was capable of this?
...and did it mean he had finally earned their respect as an equal?
“We can handle the re-opening of House Theta even with Master’s new position,” Kyle was saying firmly to Master Omicron, having seated himself beside Akira in Theta’s vacant chair without anyone noticing or objecting. He suited it. And if Akira had already mapped out a five-year plan to obtain Kyle Randall his Mastery, one that involved subtly educating him in business and politics – and stars save them all,responsiblefinances– well, none of the Coterie had to know before they formally applied for his membership, right?
He also didn’t plan on telling Kyle for at least another four years, either. He’d only say he wasn’t good enough.
But by the time Akira Miyasaki was done with his boyfriend, which meant bullying and coercing and tricking Kyle into learning things he would mistakenly believe were beyond his capability, the Coterie would have a new Master. One who recognised the person-centred nature of their industry and would instinctively guide the organisation into a better state than he found it. Where profit wasn’t put ahead of consent, and the treatment of a client rested on their treatment of the workers in turn.
Look at Akira, being optimistic again. The world certainly had changed.
But it was a future he was choosing to believe in. A five-year-plan of adopting more cats and messily eating curry in bed together and stealthily tutoring Kyle for his Mastery. A much better outcome than what they would have otherwise had in five years, which was being drawn down into the planet’s gravity for a civilisation-ending collision.
Akira was choosing not to thank the late Benedict Mackenroth for the salvation of their cities. The former mayor might have blown them apart, but it was Indira’s quick actions the night of the Fall, and her subsequent revelations to the Coterie about the runes, that provided a future for Xerxes and Nitobe. Both Randall cousins were heroes.
Nitobe Inazo (1862–1933) was a Japanese scholar, diplomat, and humanist who sought to explain the ethical code of the samurai to Western readers at the turn of the 20th century. But his contributions went far beyond cultural translation.
As an international diplomat, Nitobe dedicated his life to fostering understanding between East and West, particularly during a time of growing global tension. His work emphasised the importance of peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and ethical living: principles that remain deeply embedded in Nitobe’s civic identity today.
To name our city after him is more than an act of commemoration. It is collective aspiration. In a world increasingly defined by division and conflict, Nitobe stands as a symbol of dialogue, balance, and bridge-building.
-Extract from 'Key Events from the 21st Century' by Gavyn Hils Jr.
