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Telling the Tale

By: Goliath Wildcat

Ryuutarou sits high above the city in the rooftop secret garden of the Hidden Dragon Dojo. The white furred nine-tailed kitsune enjoys the crisp spring air and the gentle breeze that crosses the protected garden. He sits on the grass, his pack pressed to the trunk of a cherry blossom tree, his arms wrapped around the tigress in front of him, leaning against his chest with eyes closed and a soft smile on her muzzle. "Hard to believe you have found me with each reincarnation," he speaks with a soft murmur for her ears alone as he presses his nose into her long blond hair.

Kinuko opens her eyes and reaches behind her to stroke Ryuutarou's ear, "Your soul has called out to me every moment we've been separated since we met all those years ago. I could never stay away for long," lifting her chin she looks back at him, the twinkle of affection in her golden eyes. "Our souls are entwined until we both go to the afterlife together."

He smiles and leans forward to give her a tender kiss, "May that be a long time yet to come."

His ear flicks as he hears the almost quiet sound of bare feet on the grass and doesn't flinch as Kaminari asks, "Master, how did you two meet?"

The kitsune and tigress look up at the plump panda female and share a smile as the other girls come up behind her, forming up in a semicircle in front of the two cuddling ninjas. The three tailed kitsune female, Chiyako, asks, "Yes Master, I've known you for over a hundred years and you've never told of how you two met."

Ryuutarou waves towards the grass in front of them, "Have a seat students if you want to know. Maybe it is time to share the tale of how a very young Ryuutarou met his soulmate." At his invitation the girls all ease themselves to the cool green grass, their focus on their Master and his mate.

As the girls settle down Kinuko strokes her mate's arm and smiles as she sees the large red, white, and black furred and feathered Bixie leaning in the doorway of his forge with his arms crossed, a smile on his broad features. "Finally telling the tale, God of the Elements? While I have heard it before, I always enjoy hearing it again," the feline's deep voice crosses the distance between them without loosing its innate gentleness.

Ryuutarou smiles at his large friend and waves for him to join, "Indeed, wish to join us out in the sunlight God of the Forge? It is a beautiful day out here."

The Bixie keeps smiling, "I'm fine here old friend. The forge is my realm as the natural elements are yours."

Ryuutarou nods as he leans back against the tree again, one hand coming up to play with the gold charm he always wears around his neck. His fingers rub the first characters on the charm as he thinks back, "It begins over a thousand years ago, during a peaceful time in what is called the Heian period. I was only a one tail at the time..."

***

The white furred vulpine male walks down the road and into the outskirts of the town. His dress that of a traveling trader and a large pack on his shoulders carries his wares for sale. He lifts his head to check the sun's position and nods, "It's getting late, I should be ready for market day early tomorrow. For now, let's find an inn."

Walking further down the main road through town many females of different races wave and call out from the various inns and establishments. Hawking their services and hospitality to not just him, but any who pass by. He passes by the richer establishments, not wishing to spend the coin required for such unnecessary luxury. All he needs is a warm bed, a hot meal, and some drink to wash the road dust from his throat.

He stops outside a simple inn and examines the plain and simple sign. 'Kitsune's Haven, how appropriate,' he thinks as he walks towards the open aired common room with a mild surprise there was no female outside calling for him to enter and advertising their services.

A shapely tigress dressed in a flowing kimono from the neighboring establishment races up and grips his arm to bring him to a halt, "You don't want this place noble sir. The drink is water and their food is left over trash. Come, we have the warmest beds and women to keep them warm."

The white furred tod disengages his arm with a firm jerk, "I will go where I wish, and the spirits speak to me that this is the place I shall stay this night." He again approaches his chosen inn but is soon waylaid but another.

Another, younger, mouse girl scurries across the road, her green kimono whipping around her, to take his tail and start brushing it with her delicate hands, "But the women they have are incapable of even washing the road dust from your fur. Please come to my establishment, the girls are well trained in how to relax the muscles and groom a weary traveler's fur free of dust and stress."

The white furred fox sighs and steps forward, his fluffy tail pulling itself free of the young mouse girl's grasp, a hint of authority entering his voice, "Leave me alone, both of you." Both of the women trying to entice him to their establishments back away, unsure why they so readily back off what appears to be a successful trader, but knowing this is not a male to challenge when he has set his mind on a target. With jaws slack they watch him enter the inn.

Entering the open air first floor common room he is approached by an older female red vixen in a bright red kimono bowing to him, "Welcome to the Kitsune's Haven honorable sir. How may we serve you today?"

He returns her friendly smile and bows back to her, "Greetings, I have been on the road a few days and wish food, refreshment, and a bed for the next few nights. I will be attending the market tomorrow and have some business transactions to complete before I return to my lands."

She smiles and motions towards one of the low tables in the almost empty room, "Please, seat yourself and I will have food and drink brought to you. A room will be ready for you when you are ready to retire for the night. Would honorable sir enjoy a bath? I apologize my daughter is not able to assist," she hesitates before explaining, "She is ill."

The tod bows his head to her again, "I hope she will recover soon."

"Thank you, we will bring you food," she gives a deep bow before hurrying away.

Pulling the pack off his back he sets it next to his cushion as he settles before the table. The vixen returns with a platter of food and a pot of tea. He inhales the aroma and gives her a smile, "Thank you, it smells wonderful."

She bows and quickly moves to great a group of males entering the establishment. Alone, he pours the fragrant tea into a cup and brings it to his lips to sip but pauses as there is a meaty thunk and the vixen cries out, "Aiee!" The tod turns to look at the older vixen and frowns at the four males surrounding her were she lays on the floor crying.

The tall and fat tiger standing over her with a short club in one hand sneers down at her, "I said I wanted to see the bitch who refused my son's offer." The other three males, two rats and a siamese cat, sneer and clench their fists in threatening gestures, the siamese kicking her supporting hand from under her and knocking her fully to the ground.

She holds her cheek crying on the wooden floor, "She is ill... She cannot be seen..."

The tiger reaches down and yanks her to her feet by her hair as he growls, "Rrrrr, I didn't ask if she was sick, I demanded to know where she is. She will not disrespect my son's proposal." He strikes her across her gut with the club in his other hand, making her cry out again and double over in pain. "You should be honored that my son wants such an ugly reject as your bitch of a daughter. I suspect you'll be allowed to have her back after he tires of breaking her in." He rears back his club again only for a teacup to strike the club and knock it from his grip to clatter to the floor behind him.

The four males turn to see where the flying teacup came from and growl at the view of the white furred tod staring at them with hard eyes from his spot at the table, "Release the vixen. You've already made me waste perfectly good tea to get your attention. Don't make me waste my time too."

The two rats sneer at the white furred fox and start walking towards him with menacing intent as the first speaks, "The pup doesn't know to keep himself out of the business of his betters."

The white furred trader stands from his cushion on the ground, his stance calm, but his features hard, "You will leave, now!" The couple of other customers in the common room watch on in silence with two slipping out of a back door to avoid the brewing situation.

The rats step up on either side to bracket him while the second speaks, "I think the pup needs to learn his place."

The first one snaps a kick at his head assuming his partner has him distracted, but the fox blocks with a forearm and says with a hard edge in his voice, "Too slow."

The other rat pulls a knife and lunges at the fox but the fox dodges aside and strikes his wrist, making the hand go numb and the knife falls to stick in the floor. As the rat clutches his injured hand to his chest he tries to kick the white vulpine but the fox strikes his knee with a vicious kick that makes his leg collapse and sends him crashing into one of the low tables where he moans in pain.

The first one throws a series of punches which the fox dodges, his long hair flowing as his fluid movements whip him around. With a sudden turn he goes on the offense, his hands striking out to land several blows on his opponent's torso. He doesn't telegraph his attacks with shouts or words, the only sounds coming from him is the whisking of his hair through the air, his feet padding on the wooden floor, and the meaty thunks of flesh meeting flesh as his strikes find their mark. The rat goes down to one knee and the fox delivers a spinning kick to the side of his head, spinning his opponent and splattering blood from a broken nose as he collapses to the floor where he doesn't even try to rise.

With the rats dispatched the vulpine turns to the tiger and the siamese, his hands coming up in an open handed defensive stance. The tiger scowls, still holding the vixen up by her hair, "The pup knows how to fight." He nods to his companion, "Kill him." The smaller feline sprints towards the vulpine, a pair of daggers appearing in his hands like magic. The siamese's skill and speed are both far superior to the rats, he doesn't leave openings to be easily exploited and his strikes are too fast for the eye to easily track.

The white furred male keeps dodging the blades that could so easily end his life as he waits for his opening. The siamese spins to deliver a kick to the tod's head, but instead finds his ankle grabbed and twisted to redirect his movement and throw the cat into a thick wooden pillar with a loud crack. The cat falls to the ground as he cries out in pain, "Aaah! My back... I think he broke my back."

Ignoring the screaming feline on the floor the fox turns back towards the tiger who is still holding his hostage but he has pulled a knife and now holds it to the vixen's throat. "Back off kid, if you don't want this bitch to die on the floor of her own inn."

The fox studies the tiger, tilting his head to the side as if not understanding the tiger's words, "I told you to release her."

The fat tiger snarls, "I think you still fail to understand the situation here cub. This bitch's fuck trophy is to be the mate of my son." He menaces the vixen by pressing the knife against her neck, the sharp blade shaving some of the fur, "If you make me kill this bitch, her blood will be on your hands and I'll still get what I want after I skin you alive."

The young tod looks down and sighs, "Arrogant, as your father was. I see the new generation is as spoiled and pampered as the last. My mother should have ended your line then, but showed mercy in the hopes your family would change, improve, and become more caring for others instead of your worldly desires."

The tiger looks at him quizzically, "What are you talking about pup, you're barely my son's age..."

Without a warning the fox flicks a hand and a throwing spike drops from his sleeve and into his hand, the motion continues to hurl and imbeds the thin weapon deep in the tiger's eye to pierce through to his brain. His hands spasming, the knife falls to the floor and the grip on the vixen goes slack. She collapses to the ground and scurries forward to avoid the tiger who stands there a few moments more before he folds to the floor, dead. "And now, you will have to answer to the spirits for your actions."

The vixen looks at the fallen attackers in her common room, a look of fear on her features. "Oh no, what have you done?" She looks up at him, fear in her eyes, "Others will come, they will kill us." The few remaining customers in the room are quietly leaving, not wanting a piece of what's coming next.

The tod bows to her, "I couldn't let them assault and harm you further. I will continue to defend you if my actions have put you in further danger."

She shakes her head crying, "You don't understand, those thugs were part of the gang that run all businesses in this town." She waves a hand to the dead tiger, "He was one of their senior enforcers. His son wanted to marry my daughter, but she didn't want to enter into a life that includes beating and terrorizing the helpless. She's been ill since then..."

The male nods as he strokes the thin braid of white hair that hangs from his temple, "I see. Perhaps it is best if you and your daughter come with me then?"

She eyes him with hope, "You are wealthy, with guards who can protect us? Possibly a grand estate?"

He shakes his head, "I am only the son of a humble trading family, but I can promise you protection on our lands, no harm will come to you there. While hardly what I would call a grand estate, it is enough to provide for us."

She lowers her head in defeat, "There is no protection from them. They are many..."

The white furred male lets loose with a soft chuckle, "So are we. Do you know what drew me to your inn?"

Still crying and hanging her head she shakes it with a timid motion, "It was the name, Kitsune's Haven, it reminded me of home." He holds out a hand to her, "Come, let me take you and your daughter away from these dangers, I offer you safety."

She lifts her head as several footsteps echo in the empty room from the entrance. She turns to look and whimpers as she starts to scoot away on her butt from the men entering the inn. A large and richly dressed elephant has entered the establishment flanked by two armed tiger bodyguards, their hands on their swords in a threatening manner. He gives the dead body of the fat tiger a nudge with his foot and sighs, "I see he finally met his fate." He looks at one of his guards and points, "Drag him out of here, his widow will want to at least bury him, though I don't know why." As the tiger does as ordered the elephant lifts his gaze towards the white furred vulpine, passing over the female scurrying backwards to crouch behind her defender. "I don't know you, a trader? Probably from the neighboring territory because I know no white foxes in my territory."

The tod nods and gives a slight bow without speaking, his eyes hard with little respect for the large elephant.

"I am Matsushita Takara, and this is my town," he watches the body being dragged out before he continues. "That Kagawa was a bully and a brute, but he was one of mine." He looks around the deserted room, "There must be payment for the loss of him, and his men." Looking back to the two foxes he smiles in a menacing way that never reaches his eyes, "Stay here, or run, matters not, for my reach is long."

He turns and starts walking out, his second guard backing out behind him, hand still on the handle of his sword as he keeps the foxes in view. The elephant crosses the threshold into the sun as he shouts, "BURN IT!!!"

The vixen scurries to her feet and runs for the stairs to the second floor. The young male watches with a calm demeanor that turns to a frown as there is the shattering of flasks and the splash of liquid. The acrid smell of oil soaking the front of the establishment reaches his nose and his features turn to rage at the looming crisis. The trader takes up his pack before he follows the vixen, calling out, "Where are you going?! We need to leave!"

He finds her in the only occupied room on the second floor, trying to waken the younger sleeping red vixen on the sleeping pad with violent shakes as she shouts, "Kusabana, wake up! We need to go!"

Without pause the white furred tod bends over and pulls the young female into his arms, "Is there anyone else in here?"

The older vixen shakes her head, "No, business has died off since my daughter refused to marry Kagawa's son a week ago. She's been sick since then and not left her bed for the last three days."

"Let's go," he orders as he stands, the slim female in his arms seeming nothing as they hear the 'fwoosh' of fire catching the oil alight on the first floor.

At the top of the stairs he finds the way down already blocked by the flames and turns to a window that faces away from the street and the assailants waiting there. WIth a foot he kicks open the shutters and eases out onto the roof. He extends his tail to the older vixen to help her through the broken paper and wood screen. Looking at the twelve foot drop she shakes her head in fear, "I can't jump that."

"I'll help," he says as he leaps from the roof to land lightly on his feet. He sets the girl he carries down and holds his hands up to her, motioning for her to leap. She looks back momentarily as the wooden structure is engulfed in the rapidly spreading flames, turning back to him with determination she leaps and the tod shifts to catch and cushion her landing. Setting the older vixen on her feet he once more picks up her daughter and motions with his head, "Follow." Together they head for the edge of town as they hear the response of people trying to keep the fire from spreading to the rest of the inns on the street and thus engulfing the entire town in a firestorm.

As they leave the town they meet no one on the roads. They are able to travel a mile from the city proper before the male stops under a tree to set the young vixen down and let her mother rest. "We will go to my home," he says as he checks her over for any obvious injuries.

The older vixen sits and rubs her feet as she studies the young tod. His youthful vigor might explain his strength and ability to jump from the second floor as he did, but his display of skill at combat spoke of a long time practitioner of the arts. She notices a small rip in the sleeve of his outfit and the staining of red where the siamese's knife must have caught him a glance, "You're hurt."

He looks at his arm where the vixen is staring and nods, "Yes, but I will be fine." Unslinging his pack he rummages around in it for a few minutes before he pulls out two bottles. "Are you hurt?" he asks her and she shakes her head no. He takes the first bottle and pulls the stopper out with his teeth before he holds it up to the younger vixen's mouth and pours the faintly glowing red liquid down her throat. Replacing the cork he places the bottle back in the pack before he takes the second, smaller bottle, and uncorks it. This bottle's contents glow a faint green as he dabs a few drops of the thick liquid on his hand and rubs it into the cut on his arm, his eyes closing in pleasure as the pain is sapped from his muscles.

The older vixen watches as her daughter starts to breath easier and her resting shifts from a near coma with labored breathing, to a calm and restful sleep, the kind her own mother always said could heal anything. She looks back to the tod to ask him what he gave her when she notices the cut on his arm is already healed leaving only a faint pink smear of blood in his white fur. "What are you?" she asks with awe, "No mortal could heal even such a small wound so fast. Are... are you a Yokai?"

He grins to himself and closes his eyes as he chuckles. "Even you could heal like that with the aid of this small bottle," he says with confidence as he reseals the bottle and waggles it at her. "I told you your inn's name was appropriate for me, I am a kitsune." He opens his eyes and holds a hand out to her in reassurance, "But fear not, I gave you my word, I will protect you and your daughter." He gently strokes the young vixen's hair from her now peaceful face and gives an affectionate smile to the sleeping female. "When we reach my lands there will be none who can harm either of you. My clan will protect you both."

The vixen seems a little more reassured, but she heard the tales growing up. The tales of how the fox spirits loved to play tricks on and seduce mortals. How they revel in the chaos they can bring to mortals. But, if he meant them harm, he could have just left them behind to burn to death. He could have dropped her instead of catching her when she jumped from the second story. She looks into his eyes and can see no hint of trickery in his oddly blue eyes, "For my daughter's sake, I trust you," she responds with a polite bow of her head towards him.

He bows his head in return and replaces the bottle in his pack. After another minute of searching through the pack he pulls out a gourd and removes the stopper before he takes a mouthful of water to moisten his dry mouth and throat before holding it out to her, "Here, it's just water, you need to stay hydrated."

She reaches for the water bottle and takes it with a polite nod of thanks before bringing it to her lips and taking a deep pull of the contents. She is surprised at the taste, like the most expensive and freshest spring water from the most isolated of springs in the land. Lowering the bottle in surprise she quickly takes another long pull on the bottle before she hands it back to him, "Thank you for the gift."

"A gift between friends is no gift, but a shared honor." He smiles and gives her a seaweed wrapped rice ball, "Here, eat this, we need to be moving again soon. We can't guarantee that they won't pursue us when they don't find our remains in the burned ruins." He looks towards the sky and smiles, "Thankfully, the fire should still be burning, and they weren't quick about surrounding the inn, assuming we would run out the front into their wall of thugs."

She nods, "Yes." She takes the wrapped rice ball and stands, "I can eat and walk at the same time, if you are ready to proceed that is."

He nods with approval, and returning his pack to rest on his back, he lifts the young vixen once more into his arms, "Then come, we shall travel as far as we can before nightfall and see how we are doing."

Together the three travel not seeing anyone but distant farmers in their fields and rice patties. Despite the vixen's weight in his arms, the tod does not show fatigue as he keeps check on the girl's mother following behind. The older vixen shows signs of weariness, but doesn't voice her tiredness and he pushes on, knowing that if she doesn't say anything by nightfall he will order a halt to let the older female rest.

As the day insects start to quiet as dusk falls and the night ones begin their chorus he finds a small clearing near the road and sets the young vixen on a soft patch of moss to cushion her from the hard ground while he makes camp. Taking his pack off he rummages and pulls out two bedrolls that he spreads on the ground. Motioning to the soft fabric he bows, "Please, make yourself comfortable."

The older vixen smiles thankfully and lets herself collapse on the bedroll as the tod moves her daughter onto the other. "Where will you sleep?" she asks noticing there are only two bedrolls.

He points to a nearby tree, "I need to sit watch tonight, a night without sleep will not harm me."

"But," the vixen stammers, "but you have carried my daughter half the day with little food or water. You must be tired. Surely I can take a turn at watching for danger?"

He shakes his head, "I am younger, and I need to be awake to deal with anything that happens along. The time it would take to rouse me is time we do not have if it is a threat."

She frowns, "What do you do when traveling these roads alone?"

He chuckles with mischief while replying, "I keep walking."

"But," she starts as he holds up a palm to calm her.

"The only butt is the ones I expect to be in these bedrolls for at least six hours. I want to get an early start so we can possibly reach home by tomorrow night." He digs in his pack again and pulls out the water gourd and another rice ball for her, "Here, food and drink. You have to keep your energy up." She takes the items from him with a respectful nod. Diving back into his pack he pulls another bottle of the glowing red liquid which seems brighter in the growing darkness and as before he supports the younger vixen as he empties the contents down her throat.

She coughs a few times and her eyes open a sliver as her lips move to whisper, "Mother..."

The older vixen is quickly at her daughter's side and gripping a hand in both of hers, "Yes Kusabana?"

The daughter turns her head to look at her mother through half lidded eyes, "Mother... is that you? Where... where are we?" She looks around the dark clearing, her eyes unfocused as she seems to not see or even notice the male holding her. "This... isn't the inn..."

"Yes my daughter," the vixen responds. "We're safe, but we're having to move to a place of shelter, your suitor's father came to threaten and force you into his son's bed." She looks up at the white male, "This kind spirit defended me when they struck me, but their men burned the inn. We couldn't stay any longer. The town was no longer safe."

The vixen sighs and closing her eyes whispers, "I should have... said... yes..." A tear drips down her cheek which the male wipes away with a tender thumb.

"No," he says with a voice as gentle as the breeze. "Today it was your body, tomorrow it would have been your mother's, and soon your own child's most likely. I have seen men like that many times in my limited years, and it is always the same. They are never happy with what they have. In time, they will face a storm that they cannot resist, but not today. Today we head for safety."

She looks at him, her eyes still not focused and the strain of staying awake taking its toll on her, "Who... who are you?"

He strokes her dark hair from her eyes as he lies her down once more onto the bedroll, "A friend."

"What friend... doesn't give... their name?" she asks, her voice weakening as her eyes close and she relapses into sleep.

He looks up at her mother and frowns, "I apologize, I never did give you my name did I?" Sitting back on his knees he bows low to the older vixen, "Ryuutarou Arashi, my clan will welcome you when we arrive at my home and will extend the protection I have offered you. On my honor, you will be safer than if you were in the Imperial Palace."

She chuckles with nervousness as she thinks about a clan of kitsunes around her, "With what I've heard of the intrigues at the Imperial Palace, that doesn't say much. I am Otani Reiko, my daughter is Kusabana."

He lifts and nods to both vixens in greeting, "I am honored to know your names. You may have a point about the Imperial Palace. Let us say, safer than in your father's house then, hm?" He sets another two wrapped rice balls between the bedrolls, "If she wakes again, see if she can eat something. The elixir helps, but it doesn't supply all the nutrition she needs."

Her mother nods in thanks, "What is the elixir you have been feeding her if I may ask?"

Ryuutarou smiles, "A simple healing elixir, nothing more I promise. I suspect the son, or the father, had her poisoned when she turned him down." He pulls the blanket of the bedroll up to her neck and tucks her in, "She'll sleep better with the elixir, and in a week should be back to her normal self. You can already see some improvement to her color and breathing."

The mother watches her daughter with worry clear on her face, "Will it make her a kitsune like you?"

He shakes his head, "No, nothing short of Inari could change her into an kitsune, and she has only done it a few times in the eons that have passed." He stands and pulls a sheathed sword from the pack.

She looks surprised, the sword being far to big to fit inside the pack he has been carrying, "How..."

He grins at her and winks, "Just a little trick my mother taught me." With a running leap he climbs the tree the females rest under and settles himself on a thick limb. Setting the scabbard across his lap he leans against the thick trunk and starts to hum a soft melody.

The older vixen looks up at the tod in the tree before she pulls the bedroll cover over herself and lays on her side, her eyes focused on her daughter as her mind races. 'A kitsune of legend,' she thinks to herself, 'But, he looks like just a regular vulpine male. I never would have suspected.'

The night sounds of nature around her lull her into sleep and she closes her eyes.

Ryuutarou looks down at the two vixens and smiles as he thinks, 'Mother's going to be pissed at me getting involved in mortal affairs again. But, this is my choice.'

There is a shudder on the thick branch he sits on and looking up he sees a small tan female feral fox with two tails looking at him with piercing blue eyes, "Your mother sent me. Word came of what happened in the town. You were supposed to trade, not get involved with a local warlord."

Ryuutarou bows his head to the visitor and speaks softly, "And a beautiful night to you too Kano."

"Spare me the formalities Son of the Dragon, I must know why?" the small feral fox asks in a voice that doesn't carry past the larger male's ears.

The male nods in understanding, "I saw injustice, and chose to stop it. Dishonorable acts do not require consent of an elder to step in. We are Kitsune, not Oni."

The tan vixen sighs and shakes her head, "You are still young, there is much injustice in the world and you cannot stop it all. Not even Inari can stop it all."

Ryuutarou relents, "That may be, but I will do what I can, when I can."

"And if they had killed you?" she asks. "You are only a one-tail, your powers are non-existant young pup. You don't even get the ability to hide things until you earn your second tail."

"I may be young by our standards, but to the mortals I am old," he replies. "If I had died I would have gone to the ancestor spirits knowing I had done the right thing in trying to right some wrong in this world."

The feral fox looks down at the younger vixen, "It's her isn't it? You've fallen for a younger mortal?"

He hesitates before answering, "There is... something." He shakes his head, "Something pulls me towards her and thus her mother too."

She bows her head, "You have ever been the optimist, since you were a cub fresh from your mother's teat. I remember you standing up for younger and weaker children, both mortal and other Yokai." She looks down at the sleeping vixens and seems to smile, "Your mother will welcome them and offer them the protection you promised. But, you must reach the estate on your own. We will not assist you this time, other than this warning. There are already hunters on your tail young Ryuutarou, be wary."

He taps the handle of his sword and bows his head, "Thank you for the warning, and I understand. Mother wishes me to learn my lesson on protecting the helpless, but I do not intend to turn my back on these lands our family has walked for centuries. No cartel of criminals will stand against us."

The small tan vixen nods her head before turning away and disappearing from view, her last words carried by the gentle breeze, "Good luck, Ryuutarou."

The white furred tod leans back against the trunk again and scans the world around them as he thinks, 'Hunters on our tails already. This Matsushita has connections to have them after us so soon, but they are still mortals. If he had hired Yokai the clan would have warned him of that too. Certain Yokai would go rogue and gladly work for the promise of mortal gold.'

He snaps his head around at an unusual sound in the trees surrounding them. 'Seems the warning was just in time,' he thinks as he lifts himself to squat on the thick branch, letting it sway in only the manner that the wind would push it as he loosened his sword in its scabbard with the flick of a thumb. His eyes notice dark shapes closing on the sleeping vixens in the sliver of moonlight. He smiles as they stop and the apparent leader looks between the two vixens trying to find the white furred male said to be traveling with them.

"Where is he?" whispers one of the dark clothed masked figures.

The leader turns to rebuke the one who spoke and his head falls from his neck with a spray of blood as Ryuutarou lands like a ghost in the dark, a single slash of his sword killing the leader as he barks, "Here!"

The second attacker swings a straight blade at the tod who dances out of reach, his sword dancing to smack his opponent off guard. The one who had spoken starts screaming at the headless corpse soaking the ground in blood, "AAAAHHH!!!"

The older vixen wakes at the scream and seeing the fight leaps to shield her helpless daughter from danger. The two rogues still standing ignore the vixens as they focus on the true threat, this death white male who had already claimed one of their number like a wraith.

Ryuutarou lets a throwing spike drop from his sleeve into his open hand and he throws it at the screaming assassin where it pins his foot to the ground, making his scream rise in pitch as he drops to one knee to grab at his injury. "Stay!" the tod shouts as he faces off against the assassin with the sword.

The swordsman frowns behind his mask, "We weren't told you were armed pup, but it doesn't matter if you got lucky and killed our leader. I've killed more than a hundred warriors older than you pup, and you will soon be just another soul I've sent to their ancestors."

Ryuutarou smiles as he faces off against the assassin, "Killing old men doesn't make you a warrior, it makes you a murderer. HAI!" he shouts as he advances, striking at his target with strength and speed that is hard to follow but the assassin manages to deflect the blows that would have taken his own head off to join his leader's on the ground.

The masked opponent tries to steady his breathing, "You are good pup, but you are still too young to..." he stops suddenly when Ryuutarou flicks his hand behind him and another throwing spike impales the injured member of the team in his other knee and he collapses onto his back to roll around screaming. He notices that the fox before him had never taken his strange blue eyes off him to target his screaming companion.

With a lunge the assassin tries to slip his blade past the fox's guard and manages to scratch his cheek as he moves his head aside to avoid the deadly strike. There is a tugging at his hands followed first by numbness, then intense pain, as blood spurts and his hands drop to the dirt, still holding his sword. He doesn't make a sound as he stares wide eyed in shock at where his hands used to be, still unsure how the pup had, literally, disarmed him.

Ryuutarou watches the assassin slowly topple to the earth without making a sound as he dies a few minutes later from blood loss. Taking a piece of silk Ryuutarou wipes the blood from his blade as he turns to face the only living member of the assassins, "Now, I know who sent you and I think I know why, but I want to hear it from you. If you are honest, you live."

The injured assassin stutters, "We... we were to bring the vixen's back to our employer a... a... and kill you or let you leave as we saw fit." He looks over at the cooling corpse of their leader, "Shoji was going to kill you and take your trade goods as a bonus for the job when he heard you were just some simple trader."

Ryuutarou pulls a second oil soaked cloth from inside his outfit and wipes down the clean blade before snapping the blade back into its scabbard. "Never underestimate your opponent," he states in a flat tone of voice that shows no emotion or feeling.

The assassin nods quickly, "Please, I don't know anything else. Shoji handled the contract and orders."

Ryuutarou lets another throwing spike slip from inside his sleeve and into his open palm. Holding it up to study it he seems to ponder, "You have been mostly honest, but there is more I'm sure you haven't told me. Why does he want these two vixens?"

The male on the ground shudders at seeing another of the throwing spikes that still pierce his flesh, "Rumor..." He looks over at the two red vixens, "Rumor in the town is that they have kitsune blood in them. He wants their power for his own."

The white furred male shakes his head, "There is no Kitsune blood in them, he is a fool. Now..." he flicks the spike in his hand to impale itself in the ground next to the wounded male's head and the assassin's dark eyes go wide. "Run..." the kitsune commands in a level voice.

The vixen stares at the interaction from where she still crouches over her daughter and follows the assassin as he scurries and limps away, "Was that smart, to let him live?"

Ryuutarou kneels next to the vixens and checks the still sleeping younger female, "Yes, if none come back they assume the job just wasn't finished and they will immediately send more. Letting one return, injured, with the story of how a single male took out both of his companions will at least give them pause. That pause will hopefully give us enough time to reach my home."

He looks at the older vixen, "I know you didn't get to sleep long, but do you think you can travel at least a short distance. I don't want to stay here where someone knows where we are."

The older vixen nods, "I could never sleep after that..." she stares with horror at the headless body and the splatters and pools of blood.

Ryuutarou nods and quickly folds up the bedrolls before adding them to his pack. He keeps his sword though and secures the scabbard at his waist. Their few possessions collected he once again picks up the younger vixen in his arms. The older vixen notices the trickle of blood that has smeared his fur across his cheek, "You were cut?"

He smiles reassuring at her, "I'll take care of it later. Now we need to get out of here and away from those," he nods at the corpses.

With a steady tread he walks into the trees and avoids the road a few hundred feet to the side. Time passes and before the older vixen realizes she can see the first rays of sun peeking through the trees. She takes a few quick steps and taps Ryuutarou on his shoulder, "Can we stop for something to eat?"

He pauses before nodding, "I'm sorry, I was lost in thought as we walked or I would have stopped sooner." Finding a clear patch of ground he sets the girl he carries on the ground before he unslings his pack and rummages for a moment before pulling out a couple of rice balls and a water gourd. Offering her two of the rolls he takes one himself and bites a chunk out of it before nodding to her daughter, "See if you can get her to eat a little." Standing he steps out of view of the vixens, "I'll be right back, nature calls."

The older vixen shakes her daughter's shoulder and the younger vixen opens her eyes slowly to look up at her mother, "Mother?" Her eyes look around them, searching, "Where... is he?"

Her mother shushes her, "He is taking care of his needs." She uncorks the gourd and offers it to her daughter, "This is just water, try to drink some."

The vixen lifts her head to take a few sips before settling her head back with a sigh. "Thank you..."

Her mother takes one of the rice balls and unwraps it before holding it up for her daughter, "Have a bite of this too, it's quite good."

Her daughter does so and chews a few minutes before swallowing the morsel, "That is good." She closes her eyes in pleasure, "Mmmm... the fish tastes fresh. How does he do that?"

Her mother leans in closer to whisper, "He is a Kitsune." Her daughter's eyes go wide and she takes her hand to squeeze it reassuringly, "He has done us no harm, and you quite a bit of good, including carrying you. I suspect he has ways of preserving food for freshness that he considers mundane but we would call magical."

"We do," he comments as he steps out of the trees and back into their clear patch of earth. Kneeling down he rummages through his pack a few minutes before he pulls out a different gourd and removing the stopper takes a mouthful. Swallowing with relish and a soft sigh he offers it to the vixens, "Sake?"

The mother shakes her head, "No, thank you. Maybe when our retreat is finished."

He nods and returns the gourd to his pack after resealing it. He takes a rice ball of his own and chews on it, "Eat, we need to be on our way again soon."

"How much further is you lands?" the older vixen asks.

He swallows his mouthful before replying, "We should be there tomorrow if nothing else slows us down. I figure the assassin I left alive will take a while to report back with the injuries to his legs. If they send someone else they will have to move fast to catch us." Taking another bite he swallows it before he continues, "I plan that we keep going as long as we can today until we need to stop for a break. I want to avoid the main roads, which means no inns or temples to stay in and the going will be rougher, but the road less traveled is safer in this situation."

The older vixen nods in agreement, "I understand." She offers another bite of the rice ball to her daughter, "How long can you continue to carry her? It must be tiring?"

He shakes his head, "It's no problem, she doesn't weigh much, and I'm strong."

The girl tries to sit up, "I can..."

Her mother eases her back to a prone position, "No, you are still recovering." She looks up at the kitsune, "Do you think another elixir will help?"

He nods and digs in his bag again, "I have a few more. She could take one now, and one about sundown." He brings up the bottle with it's glowing contents and hands it to Otani, "Be sure she drinks it all."

The vixen nods in thanks and holds the bottle close to her chest. "Thank you," she bows with great respect before she turns to her daughter and unstoppers the bottle before supporting her daughter and holding the bottle to her lips.

The vixen drinks the liquid and smacks her lips at the taste, "Cherries?"

Ryuutarou nods as he takes back the empty bottle, "They're used to sweeten the elixir, it tastes vile otherwise. But I reassure you that all ingredients are from nature with only a touch of healing magic to augment the herbs and other ingredients' abilities." Sealing the pack he slings it back onto his back before he smiles at the vixens, "Are we ready?"

They both nod and Kusabana blushes as she feels the tod's strong arms lift her in a princess carry. She huddles her face against his clothed chest and can smell an earthy scent from him. Not unpleasant, but like the smell of a freshly plowed field as a gentle rain rolls in to soak freshly planted seeds. The scent makes her feel safe and she holds herself against him as he carries her through the forest.

As the sun reaches just past its zenith the older vixen stops to bend over and rest her hands on her knees. Noticing this Ryuutarou stops and sets the once more sleeping vixen on a cleared patch of ground. "We'll stop for a rest and let you recover," he sets his pack down and pulls out the bedrolls and snaps them out on the ground with a flick.

"Are you going to stay up again to guard us?" she asks and he nods in response. "You haven't rested in two days at least with a solid day of hard travel carrying my daughter." She bows to him, "Please rest and let me keep watch."

He eases Kusabana to the bedroll and tucks her in, "I will sleep when we reach my home. I'll be good until then."

The vixen sighs in resignation, "If you insist..."

He gives her a warm smile, "I do." He comes over to tuck the older female into the bedroll and strokes her dark hair from her face, "Rest." The female's eyes are closing as he stands and finds a tree to keep watch in.

As the sound of night insects start the older vixen wakes and bolts upright, looking around at the change in noise around them. She sees the white furred figure of Ryuutarou crouching at the base of a tree munching on a rice ball. Seeing her motion he gives her a friendly smile, "It's alright, just the night insects coming out to sing their songs in the darkness." He holds out another rice ball to her, "Food?"

She reaches out and takes it, "Thank you, how is my daughter?"

He looks at the girl and nods, "Better, but still weak. I already gave her the elixir and she ate a little food before she went back to sleep." He focuses back on her, his eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight, "If we get on the road again soon, we could be on my clan's lands near sunrise and at my home before the midday meal."

Her eyes widen, "Your lands are so large? It must be a large estate to take so long to cross."

He shrugs, "It isn't too big but no, it isn't small. Some of the going will be rough at points, and we will have to climb the hill on which my clan's home rests."

The vixen nods as she nibbles at the rice ball, "How is it that no one has tried to take this land from you and your clan?"

He smiles, "Who says they haven't? My clan has defended our territory for generations. Tomorrow you will meet our matriarch, my mother. She can be stiff and formal sometimes, but she is a kind individual on the whole."

The vixen finishes eating and insists on helping by rolling up the bedrolls for stowage in his pack. With everything stowed he picks up her daughter and leads the way, his fur seeming to reflect the small amount of moonlight present in the darkness of the night.

As the sun rises they exit the forest to step out into vast fields. In the distance a large hill is visible, but on top of the hill is not what appears to be a house, but a temple. Otani freezes as she stares at the temple on the hill, "A shrine?" She looks at the tod who stops at her hesitation and now smiles back at her, "You live in an Inari Shrine?"

He gives her a nonchalant shrug, "Kitsune, what do you expect. Some of the clan do nothing but carry Ianri's messages. Others of us tend the fields and forests. Some are traders," he indicates himself, "and some are craftsmen. However, when the times are dire, we are all warriors."

She looks at the workers visible in the fields and frowns, "Those aren't all kitsune though, are they?"

He shakes his head, "No, you are not the first we have given shelter to. There are several families that have lived with us for generations. Everyone works to support the shrine and each other, thus we are protected from outside forces and influences." He turns back towards the hill and starts walking again, "Come, we should be there soon enough and our healers can check out your daughter more than I can."

Soon they are walking along a trail that leads to the top of the hill, the path lined by bright red torii gates. Otani looks around in wonder at the beautiful lands that are visible from the path which seem to shift and become more beautiful with each torii gate they pass through. She notices that as they climb higher, the gates become more frequent. When the entrance to the shrine comes into view the torii gates are so close it's hard to see the trees around them and the air seems to almost shimmer with an otherworldly power.

As they step up to the entrance the doors open without anyone touching them. They stop to remove their shoes before entering and two attendants step forward to bow to Ryuutarou who returns the bow before speaking to the red panda females, "Takeda, Suko, please take the young lady to the healer. She has been poisoned and administered an elixir, but I would be very appreciative if she was seen by Tada Shika."

"Yes Son of the Dragon," the two chorus and the slightly larger one takes the girl from his arms with a delicate touch before they turn to leave.

Otani moves to follow them but Ryuutarou puts his hand on her shoulder, "She will be fine, Tada is our most experienced healer. You need to come with me," he motions her to follow him as he heads deeper into the shrine, "We need to go see my mother."

Stepping quickly to catch up, the vixen walks behind him, her head bowed in subservience to the apparently powerful male she owes her life, and that of her daughter to. "Head up, you are not my servant," he says without looking back at her. She lifts her chin in surprise but keeps her eyes focused on the floor in front of her.

They enter a larger room and a soft melodious voice seems to almost echo from the space, "Lift your eyes child." Otani looks up slowly to see a white furred female in a deep blue kimono with an ocean of tails waving behind her with Ryuutarou giving her a respectful bow which she hurries to emulate in front of the powerful being in front of her.

The voice again seems to come from the room itself, "I said to lift your eyes child." The vixen lifts her gaze cautiously to view the vixen in the large chair. "Son, you have offered this female and her offspring safety and protection?"

"Yes, mother," Ryuutarou answers as he straightens from his bow. "They are being sought by criminals who believe they are kitsune to be exploited. If they come here, I would like to be among those who teach them the folly of their ways."

The many tailed vixen makes an intricate gesture with her left hand, "They have our protection while on our lands. No harm shall come to them here, and we both know criminals who make it onto our lands with ill intent are never seen again." She seems to focus her own blue eyes on her son's, "And I sense there is a connection..."

Otani casts quick glances between the two white foxes, "Connection?"

Ryuutarou bows his head, "I have not told her of the feeling, but yes, there is something."

The white furred vixen smiles at Otani, "My son feels something calling to his soul from your daughter. It may be, this is what led him to your inn and to become involved in your troubles. He is still young at not quite a century, and lets his heart guide him more than his logic sometimes, but I approve of this one."

The red vixen looks startled, "Are you going to take my daughter from me, like those criminals want to?"

Ryuutarou turns to look at her, hurt clear in his eyes, "No, I only ask permission to court her. I will neither force, or use force, to do such." He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, "Her scent lingers on me now and calms my mind in ways that no meditation or incense has ever." Opening his eyes again he bows low to Otani, "With your permission, I wish to court her and let her decide what will come of it. If she finds me unacceptable, then I wish only to be friends to both of you."

The red vixen is stunned at his admission and takes several moments to respond, "My daughter is free to make her own decisions in matters of courtship." Her mind calms at the thought that her daughter could do much worse than having a kitsune as a mate, "I wish you luck in your seeking her hand in marriage."

The white vixen claps her hands together and two robed attendants enter the large room. The pair of red panda females bow to the matriarch who waves towards Otani, "Please find our guest a place to rest then take her to see her daughter." She turns back to the red vixen, "Please rest, we'll see to your daughter's well being."

Otani bows low to the matriarch, "Thank you for your kindness."

The two red pandas lead Otani from the room and Ryuutarou looks up at his mother, sensing she is not yet done with him.

"You are correct, son," she says as she sighs and closes her eyes. "I understand why you did it, and I will not second guess your motives. I can feel the tendrils of the connection between you and the young vixen." She opens her eyes to study her son, "Were you able to make any trades before the situation escalated?"

He shakes his head, "Sorry, I was not. But you should know, the man who's son was seeking the young vixen was known to you."

She raises a single eyebrow, "Oh?"

"It was Kagawa," he states with a flat tone, "you killed his father for actions against the clan years ago."

This does seem to surprise the vixen, "I see, the old grudge..." She looks down, thinking to herself for a moment before she nods and looks back at her son, "Thank you, son. The clan will be alerted that his blood is involved and we should be on the lookout for more of their agents." She nods with a smile, "You did well on your own. You're still impulsive, but I am more reassured that the spirits guided you in your choices in this incident." She waves a hand, "Go and see the girl, I can tell you want to. I need to speak with the other elders about this, but your words hold true, they are safe with us."

Ryuutarou bows to his mother before taking his leave. Walking through the shrine he comes to the infirmary and finds the two vixens in a paneled off section.

The older vixen smile up at him as she strokes her daughter's hair from her face, "Your healer says she will recover within a week. She's looking better already."

The younger vixen smiles up at him and in a voice still weak and tired, "Thank you for helping us."

He bows to both of them with a slight smile, "You are both more than welcome."

Otani pats her daughter's hand, "I'll leave you two to talk. The healer said I should get some sleep after the stress of the last few days."

Kusabana gives her mother a nod and weak smile, "Thank you mother." She studies Ryuutarou as he kneels next to her bedroll, "Mother says your family is providing us with sanctuary?"

He nods with his slight smile, "Indeed, you are as safe here as you can be anywhere. We've dealt with the clan who was after you before, and we will probably have to deal with them again." He takes her hand in his and gentle strokes it, "You will not have to worry about them."

She smiles at him, "Mother says you wish to court me?"

He bows his head to her politely, "Indeed young lady. Something pulls my soul towards you, and I wish to explore that further."

Her smile broadens a little, "I think I'd like that."

***

Ryuutarou smiles at the memories as he strokes the cheek of the tigress in his arms, "And that is the tale of how our legacy started. Hundreds of years later," he leans down to kiss Kinuko on her forehead, "And many lives later we still find each other."

Chiyako smiles at the pair cuddled under the tree, "How many reincarnations has it been Master?"

Ryuutarou fingers the small gold pendant he wears around his neck and smiles in fond memories but Kinuko answers, "I have stopped counting, but my soul is still the same that reached out to his all those years ago." She reaches up to cup Ryuutarou's cheek, "Maybe we'll tell you more another time."

Characters and story Copyright Christopher Gilman 2024 all rights reserved