Flowering Stars

Story by ReynartWrites on SoFurry

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A fireworks maker seeks to use her craft to send a message to the celestial realm at a shrine. Her show is impressive and perhaps, perhaps it attracts the right type of attention.

Cotton belongs to https://twitter.com/CottonCanyonAD


Mists fell from a mountain with lush greenery where it was said that those who attempted to cross or climb it would be lost forever, sometimes, taken to other worlds by oddities and creatures that reveled in the company of mortals. The people in the town below respected the dangers of the mountain, even those that did not believe the tales, however, all paid heed to the fact that there was a way to tell where the safe paths were. Stone statues with orbs atop of them had been placed along various paths on the mountain and none who went through those paths had ever been bothered. Those who believed knew it to be the work of a nine-tailed fox who resided in a shrine that had been built long ago halfway up the mountain. Stone steps led from the village to the shrine with a sharp red gate near the top to signify the passing from one world to the next. Trees and bamboo gathered together in quiet thickets surrounding the steps with the occasional path leading to a different portion of the mountain protected by the blessing of the nine-tails. On those stone steps, a pink-furred rabbit with horns walked the path holding a large tube with one arm and a box with the other, a long pipe between her lips puffing with smoke out the top near the end. Her chest was heavy and barely contained by a white haori touched with pink at the sleeves while she wore thick shorts dusted with what appeared to be gunpowder. Rounded spectacles covered vibrant green eyes that were ever looking upward toward the shrine as the sun began to fall preparing for the twilight hours giving her enough time to set up her offering.

Cotto had been preparing for this all day. In fact, she had been working nearly all week on this single project. Everyone in town told her that her works were nice but nothing of importance and that she should concentrate on other things like marriage or perhaps helping with the harvest. Even though she worked her butt off for her family, she was still expected to do more. Her passion, her interests were what kept her going during the days and nights spent in a town without vision or creativity but she could only handle disapproving stares and false pity for so long, and so, Cotton had come up with a plan.

The harvest hadn't been awful last year but this year the weather had hit a nasty streak and one of the fields had even gone fallow. All the folk in the town both farmer and not went to the shrine to pray in hopes that the nine-tailed fox of the shrine would hear them and give them a blessing of a good harvest but how could a celestial being hear them? How could their small voices reach another realm? No. She would use her creativity, her craft in order to light the sky at night and call to the heavens that they needed a good harvest this year! That and a small offering of dumplings pain painstakingly made by her own hands would suffice. Perhaps even just the sight of her fireworks would get folk to stop pestering her to get a real interest.

When she made it through the great red tori gate, she breathed out and set her things down for a moment to wipe away the sweat dotting her brow. The shrine and the ground surrounding it were set on an elevated stone platform with stone markers lining the path decorated by beads and a few chimes here and there. A wooden building comprised the shrine with a short roof and a door covered by strands of white along with two statues holding orbs decorated with swirls at the sides of the small set of steps leading up to the door. She brought the tube toward the center where she aligned it just right with a small smile before heading to the shrine to kneel in front of it and place the box down.

She closed her eyes and clapped her hands together before muttering aloud, "To any who would listen, I ask that you give our town a good harvest and have come bearing two offerings. One is something simple made this morning, dumplings of meat seasoned and spiced by my own two hands. I admit, I struggled to get the shape right but they should taste fine and the other I wish to remain a surprise until the night sky comes out."

The rabbit's eyes remained closed until she heard someone chewing followed by a hum, "Y'know, these are really good despite the odd shape. I don't really mind though."

Cotton jolted to her feet and looked toward the source of the sound. Sitting on one of the statues was a fox with bright white fur and inky black markings touching their face, hands, and feet stained by the color. They wore a haori of deep blue that hung loosely with a curved sword sheathed and looped through the sash of their kimono. In one of those inky black hands, they held one of the dumplings she had made with a chunk bitten out of it. She stared at the fox and they stared in kind with a big smile before opening their maw and clamping down on the last bite of dumpling. As the fox only had one tail, she found herself increasingly annoyed at their presence but found herself more puzzled at the fact that she hadn't been able to hear them approaching at all, nor had she heard them open the box.

Finally, Cotton asked while taking the pipe from her mouth, "And just who are you to be taking one of my offerings while I am praying? I would think even a ronin would know of manners and customs or at the very least know to ask before taking a bite out of someone's hard work."

To their credit, the fox nodded a few times while chewing, swallowing before speaking, "Sorry about that. You see, I saw an opportunity and couldn't help but wonder what those beautiful hands of yours produced. Of course, I can't help but be curious about what those strong arms produced with that big ol' tube over yonder."

Cotton's cheeks flushed with a bit of color partially because of the compliments and partially because of a mounting irritation with this odd ronin's tone. It was lax in a manner that stretched that smile on their face to every word and she hated the fact that she seemed to want to join that smile as her gut told her that this weird stranger didn't mean any harm. However, she kept her frown and crossed her arms, "I'll accept the compliments and the apology. As for the tube, you'll have to wait and see." She then muttered to herself, "Doubt you would be interested."

"Try me! I am curious about many things, which is why I chose the life of a wanderer. I can't say that I have ever seen a tube like that, though, is it for some sort of explosive? Do you plan on blowing the shrine up?" They asked with a tilt of their head.

Cotton coughed, "What?! No! If I mixed my powders correctly then no such thing will happen and I am certain I did! You see, what I crafted there is a firework, a shelled one at that. When fired into the sky, it will produce a flower in the night sky that even the celestial plane will see! With that, my art will be recognized and my prayers will be answered!" A smile had been growing on her face but it soon began to fade as she sighed and lost her bluster, "But maybe it'll just make a bunch of noise and fizzle into nothing. The people down at the village say that my passions are a waste of time and so, maybe this too is a waste of time."

"Really?" Asked the fox with a hum, "Because what you described sounds beautiful! I can tell you for certain that music is one way that the celestial plane may hear our calls but such a vision as an explosive flower burning high in the sky cannot be ignored! Surely anyone and everything in this world or otherwise will see and appreciate it! Of this, I am certain."

She looked toward the fox with a raised brow, her stance softening a bit before she sniffed, "Name's Cotton."

With a big smile, the fox inclined their head and hopped off of the statue, "And mine is Wel."

"If you're so curious about this little thing, then I guess you wouldn't mind helping me set it up properly?" Cotton asked while allowing herself a small smile.

The fox rubbed their chin while looking toward the tube before shrugging, "I suppose it is the least I can do after stealing one of your offerings. Food for a bit of confused labor."

With that settled, Cotton returned her pipe to her mouth and began the process of setting up her passion. The shell had to be carefully rolled out of the tube so she could make sure that everything was okay and that the launching charge attached to it wasn't faulty. She had checked many times before but she still wanted to make sure it was okay, especially with someone who actually wanted to see what her fireworks could do standing right next to her. Wel held the tube steady while she placed it back and even helped her get a good spot near the center where the fireworks wouldn't risk burning anything on the way up. She smiled as she looked up at the sky, the orange dusky twilight slowly giving way to the bruised blues and blacks of the night. Cotton cursed herself quietly for not taking some lanterns with her but Wel was already lighting a few around the shrine grounds. Had those been there all along? The fires were flickering orange but she couldn't help but wonder not only where they had come from, but how Wel had lit the fires at all. With a shrug, she turned her attention back to the tube and found the fuse that she would light to begin her show. She found herself nervous, uncertain about whether or not she should do this. Would the celestial plane see? Would the people in the town see? Would either care? Would Wel care or were they just humoring her?

She frowned and looked to her side to see that Wel was standing there with the same smile and tired eyes. Cotton couldn't help but return the smile as she took the pipe from her mouth and brought the fuse into it to let the embers do their job. As soon as the fuse began to fizzle, she put her arm up and backed away with Wel watching the skies, always watching the skies as her heart thumped as quickly as the fuse burned out. When the flame faded into the tube, they heard a pop, a loud crack echoing through the shrine as a ball of flame shot into the sky. Sharp teeth were held in a firm and open grin as she watched the ball of fire rise higher and higher until it looked like a blazing star and then, it popped. It popped and fractaled into several motes of light that formed the shape of a flower with a shower of crackling colors that brought a shiver to her body. Success! But would the celestial realm hear her prayers? Would the nine-tails who resided in the forest and shrine see?

A voice in a hushed tone by her side made it worthwhile regardless of those things, "What a beautiful sight." When Cotton turned to Wel, their eyes were alight with wonder, "What did you pray for again by the way?"

Cotton rubbed the back of her head, "A good harvest, I guess."

"And that's it? Nothing else? A better standing with your town, a better home, or perhaps even some mystic power? Such a beautiful display would surely earn you any of that, right?"

She thought for a second about what she would want most in life and there were a few things she could think of but a better harvest would help everyone and so she shrugged, "Sure, maybe I want other things...But this helps everyone and gives me a bit of peace on top of that. I'm sure there will be a few people down at the town too who will have seen that display."

Wel simply kept on smiling and placed a hand on her shoulder, "I am without a doubt certain that what you wish will be granted and that the people down below will recognize your passions."

The wind rustled through her hair, brushing at the back of her neck and bringing a cold sliver down her back as she opened her mouth to answer. Cotton found herself transfixed by the fox's gaze, their eyes a deep black but something flickering behind those orbs that brought a curiosity to the surface again, "When you first appeared, you took a dumpling from the box without even me noticing and when you went to light the lanterns, I hadn't noticed any here and I never saw you strike a match or anything at all. Who are you?"

Laughter came from the fox as they backed away and brought a hand to their chest, "I wondered when you would get curious. There were so many little hints I was hoping you would catch on but I soon became more interested in your little devices. That being said, I have heard your prayers and I am feeling generous."

Her body shook and her eyes grew wide as the flames surrounding the area began to turn blue, the lanterns fading away but the fires remaining suspended in the air. Mist kissed by ink gathered around the fox, their arms opening wide to accept the shrouding embrace. The mists then fell from their body leaving only the fox but they were different. They were still the same height but they had nine tails instead of one and their features appeared sharper. Perhaps, their features were always sharp and she simply had not taken a close enough look at them. They still wore the same clothes that hung loosely on their body and one of their hands resting on the pommel of their katana.

When she finally said something, her voice nearly cracked, "So, I told you that you had to work for that dumpling when you were the one supposed to receive the dumpling. Kind of made that offering moot, huh?"

Curling mist gathered beneath the nine-tailed fox as they sat and brought a leg up over a knee, "Please, you didn't know. I was poised as a regular ronin because that is simply the way I enjoy appearing. Besides, even after I teased you, you were more than polite and your passion was so lovely to watch. That and the fireworks more than made up for any supposed insult. I must say, normally I do not grant boons because often the people who pray do so for selfish reasons or at times, to harm others. I might've even granted you such selfish wishes for how you acted and what you displayed but it seems you're above such things."

Her cheeks brightened and she looked down at the ground, unsure if she should prostrate herself before Wel or if she should simply thank them, "Honestly, I'm just happy that you liked my fireworks. Do you think they truly appeared in the celestial plane?"

Wel chuckled, "Please, raise your head. There is no reason to be so formal after our initial introduction. As for the reach of your fireworks, I am certain that the celestial realm saw it and all residents loved it. They might even think to send their own blessings here. Careful, it could mean celestial suitors."

The brightness on her cheeks began to blaze while she raised her head and snorted, "I don't know if I have to worry about that. Suitors are usually put off by the blackpowder."

"And if I told you that I am not such a suitor? That your passion combined with your looks are enough to tickle particular desires in my body?"

She opened her mouth briefly while trying to figure out if they were simply toying with her or not before stammering out, "H-honestly, I was just coming here for a blessing that's all."

With another laugh that echoed through the shrine grounds, the fox set both feet on the ground and turned around to start walking toward the shrine, "Well, come then. You'll be able to receive your blessing in the comforts of my home."

Cotton watched the nine-tailed fox walk away with the same warmth on her face. Her eyes peered at the smoldering tube for a moment before she moved to follow Wel to their domain. It didn't seem right to ignore the request of a mystical being and even less so if she was going to get something out of it she supposed. Part of her was confused as to what comforts they mentioned as the shrine appeared small enough only for a single bedroom. As she got to the bottom of the steps, she suddenly noticed that it appeared much larger than when she had first seen it. Her eyes grew wide as Wel took a step onto the balcony, head turning to look down at her with a small smile. Cotton soon joined them and looked around at the enlarged shrine before her eyes shifted toward the back where she noticed that the grounds of the shrine had changed entirely. There was a rice garden with stones rising from the grain and a pond nearby with a bamboo tube tapping against another one as the water filled it.

"Y-you spirited me away?" Asked Cotton quietly.

With a hum, the nine-tailed fox responded, "Perhaps..." They then snorted and shook their head, "No. Not at all. If you make your way past the steps then you'll be back in your world. This dimension is simply my home and impossible to breach without my permission or without significant effort. Now then, come."

Wel turned again just as the paper doors slide open for them. They walked inside and cotton followed with a blink onto the tatami floors. Her eyes were searching all corners of the odd structure, wondering how she got here, was this place simply an illusion and other such things. Wel didn't seem to mind as they waited for her every time she stopped or got lost looking at something. The twists and turns of the shrine were something that she had not expected, the halls seeming perfectly straightforward until they dipped into other rooms and what felt like other places entirely. She never truly felt like she was in one place. Finally, they arrived at a room with a set of sheets on the floor and pillows, a simple room with bookshelves and a desk. She tilted her head wondering if this was the room of a divine creature or a student of some sort.

"Not very impressive, is it?"

She looked around while putting a hand up, "No, well, yes. I expected something more divine for someone of your status. There doesn't seem to be a divine thing in here, just sort of...Looks like a common room for someone who likes to study."

Bright fires lit in her cheeks as her eyes ended on Wel who was shifting out of their clothes with their back to her while they chuckled, "I suppose I prefer simplicity. There is beauty in it and there is beauty in this terrestrial plane that the celestial one cannot match. I don't hate the celestial plane, yet, I do not wish to go there and ascend. Instead, I think I'll become my own thing down here. Silly, is it not? I could be so much more and yet I choose to pose as a wandering samurai with an interest in literature."

Through her embarrassment, she managed to clear her throat and answer, "Not really. If you want to do something then you should be able to do it. Why should anyone decide what you do?"

As the sash fell to the floor and Wel set their sword aside, her eyes tried to search for other places to look but she found herself entirely transfixed on them as they answered, a small cut of a smile touching the corner of their mouth as they sighed, "I suppose you're right. Most simply think that I should be lording over mortals or at the very least, tending to my domain more seriously. Honestly, mortals are capable of handling themselves and I don't want to be a lord. I much prefer being a trickster who steals hearts on occasion."

Cotton sniffed, "Is that why you're stripping?"

"What better blessing than this?"

Her cheeks blazed again, "That's not what I asked for."

The rest of Wel's clothes fell to the floor and her cheeks brightened enough to see sweet scarlet through the pink of her fur while they turned around without any shame to address her, "You'll get what you want, no worries about that but I thought that I would add something extra into the mix. If you don't want to, I suppose you can leave and I'll just have to take care of any sort of arousal to the thought of your beauty."

That arousal they were talking about was a thick ebony canine length jutting out of a sheathe, heavy balls resting just beneath it. She had the choice to walk away but the thought of giving herself to this creature seemed more tantalizing the more she thought of it. Her own excuse was that if she did this then she would be currying more favor with Wel. Cotton put a thumb through her haori, pushing it down her arm to allow her chest to show. Wel did not come forward to grab her as she expected, did not change their expression at all in fact. They simply kept on smiling and watching her with those sharp inky eyes. She loosened the other side of her haori and allowed it to slip off before she got to work on her shorts, heavy working cloth slipping down all the way to the floor before she stepped out of it. She jumped just a bit when she felt Wel's hand on her own. Strong digits squeezed around it and she oddly felt calmer and as her eyes looked into theirs, she found herself recognizing the weight of their being. Those eyes were swimming with ink as if they were inkpots waiting to be drawn from and the more she stared the more she felt as if she were being drawn in. Magic had a dampened effect on her but this wasn't Wel attempting to put pressure on her, rather, this was simply their being.

When she thought to say something, an embarrassing compliment on her mind, their lips captured her own to seal the words away forever. Curiosities that had been swirling in her mind melted away as their lips parted and melded together, warmth blossoming deep in her body like the fires she had been tending to in her cheeks. She had thought that they would grab her, that they would yank her by the hair and use her immediately but instead, their touch was gentle and full of care and love.

Their lips parted for a moment to let her breathe out and speak, "You don't have to be so gentle."

Wel chuckled and planted a few pecks along her shoulders and neck as their hands began to trail over her body, one resting at her chest and the other moving down her back, "I know. Just figured that I should seduce you properly."

Tilting her head as their lips continued to press against her neck, Cotton muttered, "What, and no flower?"

Though she joined the joke, Wel took a step back and brought a hand up. She wasn't sure what to expect but her eyes widened as she witnessed that same inky mist gather in their hand until a flower was pinched between two digits, dark and swirling but still a flower. Cotton took the flower gingerly and gasped as the cool mist curled up their arm and down her shoulder to rest against her chest as a blossom made of ink.

While she touched the mark, Wel wrapped their arms around her anew and purred to her ear, "I thought that it would fit considering the beauty of your fireworks. Perhaps it will fade, perhaps it won't...Mostly because perhaps I'll want to keep you."

Cotton's embarrassment flared and she thought of pushing them, thought of telling them that they wouldn't be able to keep her but with those words, with their touch and with their lips planting pecks along her shoulder again, she wasn't so sure she could resist. One of their hands moved around to her chest to feel where the mark was before sliding down to take hold of a nipple between two digits, tugging on it gently while Cotton shuddered from the sudden touch. She could feel their arousal throbbing against her belly, a constant warm spot that reminded her of what they wanted to do to her. When their lips trailed near hers, she expected a heated kiss, a breaking of this formality but instead, Wel pulled away and sat on the futon with a small smile, legs spread.

A small line of drool had fallen from the side of her mouth as she watched them watch her with that same sharp gaze and smile. One of their hands was idly toying with the tip of their cock, squeezing on it while presenting the bulk of the shaft, and those heavy balls beaded with sweat. Finally, Cotton was the one to break formality. She brought herself down to her hands and knees to push her face against those heavy balls, eyes as she dragged her tongue along the center. Her mouth then began to pepper their balls with kisses, starting at the middle before coming around to the left and letting her tongue out to go to the right before she took one into her mouth and began to suckle. Gentle digits on her head along with a sighing chuckle urged her to continue as she gave worship to the nine-tailed fox before her. When she looked up, Wel was still staring at her with the same smile, the same expression, and the same hunger twinkling behind those divine eyes. That stare of theirs only encouraged her to keep going, her hand reaching up to grasp onto their shaft and tug on it gently, squeezing to feel the heat pushing through her palm while her mouth continued to suckle on their balls.

Claws pressed against the back of her head, looping through her hair while she trembled. She had lost herself before them, wanting more and more of this heat that kept on building inside of her and wanting to see them be the powerhouse that they were and she continued working diligently in hopes to draw out that hunger she could feel in their gaze. It wasn't long before she moved her mouth up their shaft, kissing up to the tip before the digits at her hair brought her up. She thought about resisting the tug but a hand moved to grasp her cheek, pulling her all the way until her mouth met Wel's again. Their lips melded together and her body trembled as the hand on her hair moved to clutch her cheeks, kiss deepening while she moved to straddle their lap with her legs wrapped around their waist and her arms around their shoulders. Both of their hands moved down to grasp her hips, urging her to rise. As she obeyed, one hand moved to grasp hold of their shaft, squeezing onto it as they eased the tip against her warm folds.

Wel pulled their mouth away from hers only to plant a kiss on her ear, "I won't pull out."

Such words! Such a threat! Was this their idea of a blessing? Despite how silly the idea of her having a child was, she did nothing as their hand eased her hips down. Inch by inch, their shaft began to fill her pussy, her arms around their shoulders tightening as she shut her eyes and tried her best to keep her voice from escaping too much. She wanted to tell them how much of a fool they were for suggesting such a thing despite them being a divine being but all she could manage was a sweet sigh as more and more of that thick shaft began filling her. She was about to regain herself and her voice to give them a piece of her mind in regards to what they thought counted as a blessing before she squeaked, her insides stuffed to the brim by every inch of their shaft.

The nine-tailed fox's arms curled around her body tight as they began to jerk their hips up to bounce her on their lap over and over again, her breasts pressed against their body and her rear slapping onto their lap with every movement. Cotton gasped and groaned, her eyes fluttering as she felt her insides being constantly pounded by that powerful length. Finally, she was getting the wild pounding that she had known that they were capable of but something was different. Their breaths glided along her back while their lips pecked along her shoulders, their hips slowing down on occasion to give her a moment to breathe before they continued thrusting inside of her. It wasn't fair. From the start, they had given her attention that very few had ever done. Wel had taken interest in her passions and now they were treating her body with such kindness and hunger despite the fact that they could simply use her like a toy and do nothing else. She almost wanted to be knocked up by this divine being but even still, wouldn't that interrupt her work, wouldn't that make things difficult? She couldn't abandon her life but perhaps Wel didn't intend on making her do that. After all, they seemed to consider everything else as well.

Her eyes grew wide as she felt a sudden pressure burn from the fox. Their mouth was held in a snarl, lips pulled back and fangs showing while their grip tightened on her, their hips moving faster and faster while the pressure she felt from them continued to build. It felt as if her mind were being swallowed by that inky mist as it seemed to gather and swirl around both of them, Wel's tails flicking and curling as if they were brushing aside the ink and mist. Every thrust produced a loud slap, each movement bringing that powerful shaft deep inside of her until she could feel her womb practically opening for them. Even with this rutting, she could feel their love pulsing through the pressure, pulling at her mind and letting her know that there was an escape should she ever want it. The constant grinding, the pressure in her mind, the fangs that were suddenly pressed against her shoulder. It was too much to handle! Her insides clenched and Cotton felt her climax crashing against her gut without remorse or care. She squealed aloud rather than attempting to hide her voice and her hips began moving wildly. More, she wanted more and more of this feeling, of being filled, being pushed and pressed by this divine presence, and as she felt the bulbous knot pop inside of her, she stopped, gasping as she realized that she had sealed her own fate. Rather than bemoan it, she simply trembled and clutched on tight, the subtle pulsing of the fox's cock growing in intensity until the first shot of thick cum painted her insides. Each twitch produced another load of seed that filled her to the brim until it felt like her belly was growing fat and she was already pregnant.

Wel toyed with her chest, digits stroking along the nipples while they purred to her ear, "Let's sit like this for a bit...Close your eyes and rest. You'll wake when I'm finished and with your blessing complete for both you and your town. This isn't the last time we'll meet."

Cotton tried to keep her eyes closed but the pressure she had felt from the fox faded away entirely and instead was replaced by a gentle breeze wrapping around her. Magic was dulled and perhaps it was meant to make her fall asleep immediately but instead, she felt her senses slowly faltering until she rested against the fox, eyes shut and body receiving every drop of divine seed they had to offer.

The rabbit woke up later at the shrine, lanterns resting atop the statues filled with regular fire. She sat up slowly and grabbed her head wondering what in the world had happened. Cotton felt groggy and tasted salt on her tongue and when she got up she nearly fell over again as her legs were oddly weak. As she got up, she noticed that she wasn't wearing anything at all! At that point, she remembered the bastard fox, the divine nine-tailed idiot who had bred her and now had taken her clothes! When she looked around she saw a note on the tori gate and grabbed it with a hiss.

It read, "Sorry to say, I've grown of the cherry blossom theme on your haori. Think I'll leave you something more suitable under the tori gate. A bridge between the celestial and the terrestrial. Never forget, there is a world right here for you to focus on, and should you ever wish to take a taste of the divine again you need only take the first step up the shrine and you will be welcomed with open arms."

Cotton looked down and saw that there was a kimono waiting for her complete with a sash. She held it up and turned it toward the light to see that it was white and touched with ink here and there along with a motif of swirling mist along the back. A small smile touched her features as her irritation faded and she slipped the kimono on. A hand went to her chest where she felt the cool ink of the flower still blossoming on her chest. She wondered what it meant and if it did anything. Perhaps it simply meant that the fox had taken a liking to her, or something else entirely. Regardless, she moved to pick up the spent tube and started walking down the mountain, wincing with every step as she wondered what a truly rough evening with the nine-tailed fox would be like.