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We pass beneath the first three torii in silence during the start of our journey down the mountain steps. Miki takes the lead, her tails and ears restless as we walk. I have little doubt that her failed advances on me weigh heavily on her mind, with her and Shizuka's plan recently failing, but I suspect the two-tail is also concerned by her six tailed sister walking next to me. Hibiki moves at a seemingly leisurely pace, her ears facing forward without an apparent care in the world, yet there's a wariness in her eyes and restless swirling to her tails.

I try to ignore them both and count the torii we pass, as there is little else to look at aside from winter bare branches and the swept path we descend. Right as I spot the eighth torii, the mood around me shifts.

The back of my neck prickles as Hibiki opens her mouth to speak, carelessly flashing her pointed teeth. "Egil," she begins, a casual smirk settling on her face when I nod but don't look at her, "I trust your arm is doing well?"

Lifting my shield arm a little, twisting and rolling my wrist without pain, I nod again. "Much of the strength has returned." I let my arm drop back by my side. Knowing this is going to be a long walk, I decide it's better to test the waters with Hibiki than try and keep silent. "Training with Saki has helped with that."

Hibiki leans her head to one side, the angle showing her fangs just a little better. "So Saki-sensei has been training you."

"And with me, at times."

She haughtily chuffs, her eyes narrowing in a way that makes me mistrust her even more.

I don't let how I feel sway my voice, and ask, "Is there something strange about us training together and comparing our knowledge?"

"I am only curious," she says with a crooked smile. "As her first, and best, student, why wouldn't I find it interesting she's kept it a secret that she's trained with someone else? A curious situation, as I said."

"That she and I have been preparing to fight alongside each other hardly seems a secret."

"We all know what Rin plans. But Saki, she's not told me anything of what you two have been doing," Hibiki says, cocking her head to look sharply at me, her gaze almost level with mine. "Which is," her grin sharpens, drawing her mouth into a mockery of a snarl, "most curious."

"Perhaps it's simply more interesting to spar than it is to talk about it, since I've not once heard Saki boast."

Hibiki raises a brow. "Sparring? I thought you were training."

I shrug. "We were comparing our knowledge, since our weapons are so unfamiliar to one another."

"With such a short blade, I cannot imagine any of your tricks surprised her."

My thoughts try to drift to when Saki and I accidentally ended up on the floor in a spar, with her legs still wrapped around me from her tricky feat of strength and balance. The look in her brown eyes, her unabashed want staring right at me despite everything she's seen about me. So different from her older sister's understanding, gentle blue gaze, but no less enchanting. If things were different, perhaps I wouldn't have held back and...

My palm taps against my sword's cold pommel, dispelling the memories and distracting fanciful flights of imagination before they consume me. Hibiki's attempt at a not so subtle insult seems to have failed miserably. "It has been surprising for us both," I say, trying to ignore the hollow feeling in my chest brought about by that memory. "But I will keep her confidence. If she wishes to tell you details of what's happened, that's her choice."

"Really?" Hibiki's grin darkens. "Be careful with your words, oh honored guest. I'd hate for my other sisters to get the wrong idea because of what they might assume upon hearing that."

I notice Miki's ears flick at that, so I hold back a biting reply that might hurt the younger kitsune. Instead I say, "Misunderstandings can be corrected and forgiven. Betraying trust, that's another matter altogether."

"Oh ho, so you do hold yourself as honorable," Hibiki chuckles. "Sensei does not speak often about her fights and training, true, but having heard so little about you from her, I'd begun to wonder. And not only about what tarnished skills you might have picked up."

"Calling a spar a fight is something I wouldn't do, but if that is the way of this land," I shake my head and shrug, making a show out of the gesture. All to see how Hibiki handles the possible offense, since she seems intent on prodding me. But it doesn't appear to irritate her in the slightest, so I continue, planning a bit of bait of my own. "It is up to you asking Saki, isn't? Then you'd know what she thinks of me as a warrior or a man."

Hibiki tilts her head back and laughs quietly. "Despite appearances, you do have some cunning in you, Egil."

Interesting. She didn't take the obvious path of insults and implications about my manhood. "Hah," I say with a grim smile, "I never thought I'd hear that."

She turns a single eye to me, brow raised as her crooked grin aims down at me. "And why is that?" she asks, confirming I prodded the wrong nerve.

"Oh, it's simply that the people of my land would never believe me that a magical fox called me cunning," I say, the truth a wonderful shield.

She bares her teeth at me in an either annoyed or bemused smile. I truly cannot tell if she's offended at my intentional choice of words, or if I'm providing her the entertainment she craves. "Are wits as uncommon where you're from as strong and long blades seem to be?" she asks softly, but not as menacingly polite as Rin can manage.

I consider for a few moments, drawing out a long, "Hm."

I let the six-tail stew in anticipation. The flicking of a few tails and how she keeps me in her sight has me wondering if she really is desperate for some sort of conflict. My gut begins to doubt she has any sort of plan, unlike what Rin and Saki feared.

"Men with more courage than wit and luck don't last long where I'm from," I finally say. "Bravery and honorable cunning are held in high regard because of it. It would be a compliment worthy of a skald's poem."

"Yet you're not among them anymore," she says. "And a kitsune calling you cunning could be an insult, for all you know."

Annoyance rises in my throat. Perhaps she did land a blow on me, but I started it by calling her a mere fox. I keep the feeling in my throat, remaining calm. She most certainly doesn't know why I left, or so I assure myself to keep a twinge of worry from growing into something Hibiki can sink her teeth into. The last thing I need to do is show a predator like her weakness.

Not caring to play her game on her terms, I lift my hands in a shrug and smile at her. "I've traveled quite far, so how do you know if I'm even telling the truth about anything besides how foreign I am to this land?"

Hibiki's gaze narrows, the gleam within dulling, but she doesn't say anything else.

I keep on walking, uninterested in breaking the sudden, but all too welcome, silence.

As step after step starts to meld into one another, I soon find my mind drifting. First to Saki and the ease with which she and I fell into our routine of training, then all too swiftly my thoughts turn back to the sparring incident that had her underneath me. That brief moment we shared a look, it wasn't only her wants and desires that burned, as even now there's something like an ember in my chest. Perhaps it was nothing more than the closeness of someone I felt I could trust that made me want to draw closer to her, but it remains that I didn't. And the why, it claws at my ribs.

I swallow dryly as my scattered thoughts recall the reason I restrained myself. Rin, of course, and my own fears of impropriety. Those two sisters, it's unfair that my thoughts of one leads to the both of them together. If I were to close my eyes, I'm almost certain I could feel their hands against mine again, the memory so fresh a wisp of warmth haunts my skin.

If we'd had more time to ourselves, then what? Would we have found a solution to the problem that ails all three of us? Are the sisters even able to work out their troubled hearts without me making an agonizing, impossible choice between them?

No.

I cannot think on that without causing worry to fester.

Letting out a misty breath does nothing to quell the rolling sea of questions I've stirred in myself.

"I've wondered, Miki," Hibiki whispers just loud enough for me to hear, wresting me from my dangerous thoughts. "What is it about our honored guest that you can't look at him anymore? Why, when I was last around everyone, you could hardly take your eyes off of him and his every movement."

Hibiki is half a step behind and to the side of Miki, and there's a downright evil grin twisting the six-tail's mouth as she looms over her sibling.

Since I was no fun, now she's after Miki? Maybe this is all an attempt to get me to react, or perhaps it's both. I keep my pace down the mountain steps steady and listen cautiously.

"You're mistaken," Miki whispers so quietly I scarcely hear it. Her ears flick but she keeps her gaze forward.

"Am I?" the six-tail murmurs, slinking around to speak at Miki's other shoulder. "Why, little sister, you must think me blind to have missed what happened at the gate."

"Nothing happened," Miki quickly insists, tails twitching in opposite directions.

"Why, sister, I am not blind, especially to your pained gaze trying so hard not to look at Egil, even though you desperately wished to." The grin on Hibiki's face turns up a little more. "Something must have happened. Even I, only watching from the sides, could see that you were utterly beside yourself when we all met at the gate."

The two-tail's ears fidget. "I'm fine now."

I resist a wince at the horrible slip up she just made. Hibiki, meanwhile, doesn't miss her chance. "Now? So something did happen."

"That's not true. I-"

"Miki, you should be truthful with your sister," Hibiki mutters, slinking to Miki's other side and placing a hand on the two-tail's shoulder. "Or learn how to compose yourself better, you always flick your eyes down twice when you're trying to hide something, then you let loose the truth moments later."

Both of Miki's tails start twirling together, bunching up as she works through what she can say. "Hibiki," she whispers, ears twitching in my direction even if she doesn't look back, "it was nothing, trust me."

"My dear little sister," Hibiki says softly, leaning in with a dangerous gleam in her eye, "I am afraid I can't believe you. Unlike our honored guest, you're far too easy to read."

For some reason, despite Hibiki almost certainly intentionally speaking so I can hear her, I don't think she's lying. Leaving the entire truth unspoken perhaps, but not speaking falsely. Evidently, Miki must feel her sister is being honest as well, as she whispers back, "I do not wish to speak about it. That's all."

"Hm." Hibiki leans back and crosses her arms under her bust.

The six-tail glances at me, appraising me in a most dispassionate way. The neutral, detached look on her face concerns me more than the expression would on any other kitsune. I meet her stare with one of my own, the mischievous, if not malicious, kitsune turning away quickly.

I know the quiet won't last long, so I don't let myself get attached to the peace. We make it perhaps thirty steps before Hibiki speaks in a low whisper to Miki, something I cannot hear this time.

The way the two-tail's head snaps to her older sister, eyes wide and mouth half open, tells me it was either a very good guess or utterly distressing. Or both. Miki struggles to compose herself as Hibiki leans back and chuckles to herself. That only makes it worse for the younger kitsune, Miki's shoulders hunching as she feels set upon by whatever secret was spoken.

"There is nothing to be ashamed of in chasing your desires, little sister," Hibiki insists. "We were all young and exuberant once."

"Y-you are mistaken," Miki mumbles, looking down at her feet.

"True, I suppose our eldest sister has never exactly been exuberant, but even she was once youthful as well."

A frown wants to crease my cold composure, but I keep myself in check. As much as I hate to admit it, she has some of my attention now, yet I know better than to speak up and involve myself in an obvious trap. Giving Hibiki the knowledge that I have feelings for her two eldest sisters strikes me as a terrible idea.

Miki, however, can't keep herself composed. "And what would eldest sister think if I told her what you-"

Hibiki cuts her off with a scoff. "What does she care? Rin sent you quite purposefully, even after those unfortunate misunderstandings you had."

Miki snaps her mouth shut, her tails trembling together in their twisted braid. With Hibiki being so blunt, I now have a good guess as to what was whispered, a suspicion I hadn't wanted to entertain. What else could Hibiki torment her sister with if not the failed attempts at seducing me, as she so plainly taunts with now? And, unless I am a complete fool, Hibiki must have woven in the fact that Rin has a clear fondness for me. I bide my time, not wishing to insert myself and make the situation worse. Or, more dangerously, get Hibiki's attention back on me by slipping up and hinting that it's more than Rin who has an interest in me and my thoughts keep drawing towards.

"I do not mean to disturb you, little sister," Hibiki lies, her crooked grin and face half-facing me almost certainly betraying her true intentions. "But even the trees can see how your shoulders sag and feet almost drag."

Miki stiffly straightens her back. "If you're concerned-"

"Of course I am concerned," Hibiki cuts in, not daring to give the initiative to her little sister. "Why, it would be wrong if I wasn't. Not when..." She shoots a look back at me, all but daring Miki to do the same.

I make a point of watching the trees. I don't want to give Hibiki the attention she so clearly desires, nor embarrass Miki more than she must already be. Yet as I do, I can't shake the feeling the barren limbs and trunks on either side of the path are starting to look more gnarled and skeletal. Which shouldn't be, not with how little we've walked so far.

Miki's ears twitch but she manages to keep from looking back at me. "I'm not going to make more mistakes," she murmurs, struggling to raise her voice above a whisper. "Better to keep my word than act a child."

"Oh-ho," Hibiki coos softly, head tilting so I can see one of her eyes. The gleam within her gaze dulls as she looks away, towards the trees that have my attention. I hardly notice it, but Hibiki's stride changes, taking her just far enough from her younger sister to allow a smooth draw of her swords. "We will have to continue our talk another time, Miki," the six-tail says, an unnerving softness resting on her face. "It seems we're already on the border or the barrier."

So I wasn't imagining the trees looking more twisted and warped. We must be at the edge of where Meiko and the oni are trapped, but I didn't think we'd arrive so soon. The sun hasn't moved nearly far enough through the sky for us to have made it this far, at least I don't think it has. Yet I cannot deny that we're here, at what may be the half-way point between the kitsune's home and the village below.

Miki anxiously works her hands. "Should I walk in front or behind?"

"Ahead of us, sister," Hibiki says, slowing her pace and looking at me, the fire in her eyes dimmed and a seriousness in her tone. "We'll let our honored guest walk in the middle."

"I hope you know I'm supposed to be bait," I say quietly.

"And what better way to offer bait than make it seem guarded?" the six-tail smiles, only showing her back teeth. "It makes catching it vulnerable all the more desirable."

I breathe out slowly, resisting my hand's urge to touch the pommel of my sword, and nod. "I suppose if any kitsune would know that, it would be you."

"Far more than any of my dearest elder sisters," she replies with a smirk as I walk past.

Having the six-tail fall in step behind me makes the back of my neck prickle and hand brush against my sword, but I endure how she unnerves me. I focus on the patch of forest just beyond Miki's ears descending ahead of me.

"Walk as you always do," Hibiki insists. "And whatever you do, don't look back at Meiko. She's nearly as fast as Saki, and always has a spell prepared to make even the mightiest drowsy as a newborn. The barrier keeps her at bay only if you don't choose to look at her."

"I am familiar with that spell after helping Rin," I say.

"Then you had better believe Meiko is as fast as Saki." Hibiki tsks, and adds, "But not as deft or skilled, of course. She chose to learn arts from Rin instead of sharpening her talents."

"Of course," I say, smiling directly ahead so she can't see it. An idea for how to disrupt Hibiki is already taking shape in my mind, but I can save it for another time. The forest ahead looms too wickedly for me to get lost in thought again.

My palm on the cold hilt of my sword, we enter the dead domain of the oni and his captive kitsune. A faint wind rustles the dry, twisted branches, rattling them like dried bones. I take care to keep my breath steady, a faint fog puffing in the bottom of my sight as I keep my eyes on the top of Miki's ears. The back of my neck prickles as we walk ever onward, the swish of cloth and rustle of dead boughs becoming our uneasy traveling companions.

I can feel Hibiki looming behind me, but I keep myself from doing more than dig the pommel of my sword into my hand. I almost expect to hear the distant, crazed laughter of the lost kitsune sister out in the woods, echoing about as she approaches. But it never comes.

Except, I know something is out there, watching us. A hunter stalking prey but not approaching just yet. I can feel it in how my skin crawls and fingers itch to bare steel to the cold wind. Oni or Meiko, I don't know which it is out there. And I dare not show whoever it is my unease by looking around or asking questions of the kitsune with me. It's a long, tense walk down the stone steps carved into the winding path.

Eventually, the trees around us start to look healthier, more lively. Their branches reach for the sun and bend much more softly in the breeze, and the ice covered shrines that dot the edge of the path look much better kept. But any offerings that had once been left are long gone, the somber knowledge that the people who'd given them are no more tightening my chest.

It's always the same, no matter the land. Man-eaters exist only to bring suffering and a vicious end.

I squeeze my sword's hilt, the habit certainly a bad one, and breathe out carefully, all too aware of who walks ahead of and behind me. But it must not have been enough, as I hear Hibiki chuckle behind me.

"Did you see it?" she asks, long strides bringing her haughty expression into the edge of my sight.

I don't look at her, but I do give her a reply. "See what?"

"The oni."

If she's playing a game, I have no patience for it. "I only saw the trees."

That arrogant grin flashes teeth at me. "He kept behind you, and hid when I looked at him. But he was stalking us."

She'd better not be lying. "And what about Meiko?"

"She can't stray far," the six-tail says, grin fading to faint smirk. "I hope my dearest," she says the word as if it's thistle upon her tongue, "eldest sister has made that clear."

"I'm aware. He has her hoshinotama, but that's not what has me uneasy this moment."

Ahead of me, Miki's ears twitch, her head stopping short of jerking back to look at me. She collects herself swiftly, folding her hands in front of her to feign composure.

"So free yet careful with your words," Hibiki chuckles. "Meiko is out there, but she hides herself well, as she always has. If I did not notice her presence, you surely wouldn't have."

I manage to keep my expression calm and still, because I suspect that will irritate her more than biting back with wit. Even if I could get more information out of her, I don't think it wise. Instead I nod and simply respond, "As you say."

"You can look at the oni. But don't look at Meiko if she is there, but," she says, flashing teeth at me in one of her mockeries of a smile, "you already know not to do that."

"Magic that potent is worth respecting."

I can feel Hibiki staring at me intensely, waiting for me to ask the obvious question about how the magic works. Unfortunately for her, I plan to ask Rin, or perhaps even Yuuko at the desolate village since her eldest sister is trusting her to perform a magic ritual. And, I suppose I also keep my silence because I'm sick of Hibiki trying to make me uncomfortable. It's taking too much restraint to keep my teeth from clenching and hands from gripping steel whenever the six-tail tries to show off her fangs.

After a few hundred steps, my will wins out against her patience, as the six-tail turns her attention from me.

"Egil," she mutters, voice low and dangerous. "Just so you know, if you ever try to use any of this knowledge against my sisters," she steps ahead of me, glancing back with one narrowed eye, "there is no land far enough to keep me from finding you."

Her head snaps forward, shoulders relaxed and steps joyously light as the six-tail slinks up to Miki and places her hand on the younger kitsune's shoulder, as if she hadn't just threatened me. Hibiki whispers into her sister's ear with a gleeful grin, and I can see Miki shrink and recoil in embarrassment.

I don't know what to make of Hibiki. I can't tell if she's trying to amuse herself with cruelty, or if she's so carefree she speaks her mind and chases her whims without shame. As I watch her harass Miki in hushed tones, I feel a pang of guilty relief. I'm actually glad Rin had someone accompany me to keep that six-tail at bay, but I do feel bad for the two-tail. Even after the two incidents, it's not like I dislike Miki. I simply wish for the two-tail to keep her word about not disturbing me again. Yet, even if I feel guilt for her being used as a shield against Hibiki, I won't rescue Miki from it.

That could give Miki ideas I don't want her to have. I'd have to explain that two different kitsune have already captivated me, if that occurred. And I wish to have that situation settled before speaking to any of the other sisters about it.

---

The sun reaches its peak, shining down on us from a clear blue sky, as we near the bottom of the mountain path. The two kitsune ahead of me are quietly bickering, Miki taking worried half-looks back at me before whispering harshly to her older sister. Hibiki is clearly amused by whatever is going on, her six tails swaying about lazily in contentment compared to Miki's twitching, thrashing pair. I start to wonder if they're going to come to blows when we finally pass under the last torii, the one signaling the end of the mountain steps.

Yet as we near the strange, mystical arch, I start to feel watched once more. My fingers brush against the cold handle of my sword as I warily glance at the trees around us. The two kitsune are still speaking in hushed, albeit somewhat tense, tones. Neither seems unnerved, so I urge my hand to drift back to my side.

We pass underneath the old, weathered torii.

The moment my foot steps on the path beyond the arch's open threshold, wings flap loudly and branches rattle as something takes off from the trees above.

Both Miki and Hibiki hold their tongues for a moment, looking up with me as a black bird weaves around tree limbs and heads toward the sky. It has just enough cover that I can't make out the shape of its wings, but I don't remember crows in this land being so big.

The bird flies off, and even though I want to, I can't ignore the sharp concern in my gut. First a black bird at the kitsune's home, and now another at the entrance to the village. I try to tell myself it's all because of beliefs and lore of a land so far away I'd have to wear out several pairs of boots to get near it again. Yet I cannot shake the feeling that those birds weren't crows.

"Why, Egil," Hibiki says, her voice carrying a cruel smile she keeps off her face, "you look as if you saw the oni, when it's only a bird."

"Some birds are very important to a god of my homeland," I say carefully. "But it's as you say, merely a bird."

I can see the six-tail doesn't believe me. She opens her mouth to speak, but Miki murmurs something into her sister's ear that causes Hibiki's head to snap towards the younger kitsune. Letting out a disgusted chuff, Hibiki turns her gaze to the path ahead and starts walking.

Caught unsure if I should thank Miki, the chance for me to do so passes by when she hurriedly turns to catch up with her sister.

Breathing out a hint of a sigh, I lengthen my strides to not fall behind and cast aside my senseless worries and superstitions about birds.

Before long, the trees part and the cold mud of the empty winter fields stretches out before us. The weight of what happened to the villagers hangs heavily across my shoulders as we draw near the dwellings. Only three huts, all on this side of the river and close together, have smoke curling out from their thatched roofs. Hibiki quietly takes the lead, directing us towards the largest building. My boots crunch over a slurry of half melted ice, while Miki and Hibiki both take graceful care to avoid stepping into the puddles, yet the two of them still manage a quick pace.

We stop at the door to the large hut, where Hibiki announces, "Yuuko, I've returned with extra hands for you."

There's a sly half-glance from the six-tail toward Miki, but it passes swiftly. I know why when the crude plank door of the hut moves aside. A black haired kitsune ducks under the low threshold, emerging with a humble grace that's somewhere between noble and homely. She stands straight and folds her hands before her, her pose and posture reminding me of Rin so much it's eerie. This four tailed kitsune, with black hair held back with a jade ornament, fur a few shades darker than most of her sisters, and eyes only coming up to my chin, looks nothing like the master of the mountain, yet she carries herself with the same polite authority. Yuuko, I recall from when I was recovering from my broken arm, but she's without the subdued, servant-of-a-lord demeanor I saw back then. Her dark gray dress, made from thick and practical cloth, looks far richer on her than it has any right to. But, I muse to myself, she doesn't wear it nearly as well as Rin would.

Yuuko looks to Hibiki with a soft, reserved smile on her face. Then her eyes sweep over me, before settling on Miki. "I trust," Yuuko says, voice calm and measured, "there was no trouble on the trip?"

Hibiki's shoulders square up. "The oni seemed to be interested, but kept his distance. Otherwise, it was a simple walk."

"Thank you, Hibiki, but I was not speaking to you," Yuuko says gently, without a hint of annoyance or kindness. She simply takes a step toward Miki, the younger kitsune's tail tips twitching as she fights to keep her composure. "I am wondering what brings you here, Miki. Weren't you set on studying with Shizuka?"

"Eldest sister asked if I would come along to tend to our sick sisters, so that you might have more free time, Yuuko. I," she falters for a moment, almost certainly fighting back a desire to look towards me or Hibiki, "was glad to, of course. A-and I can help you with your ritual, and the herb preparations, since I've been studying both."

The soft smile widens on Yuuko's fox face, and she dips her head. "Thank you, Miki. I appreciate your help, and will aid you with your studies while you're here. Now, If you wouldn't mind going in and tending the stew, and to our sickly sisters, I have much to do. But we will talk tonight, I promise."

"Of course, thank you, sister," Miki says, half bowing, but not daring to go too deep with all she carries on her back. The two-tail crouches and enters the hut, eagerly taking the chance to escape.

Yuuko, a serene smile on her face, waves her tails behind her. The crude door rattles back into place, and I'm left wondering if she signaled Miki or if the four-tail knows more about magic than just mystical rituals. I don't have much time to think about it, as Yuuko takes two steps toward Hibiki.

"Sister," the shorter, and younger, kitsune says gently, "be certain to get some rest now that you're back. You'll need to be alert since Kumiko is still too feverish to stand watch over the wayward Taro."

Hibiki's head tilts, and she casts a glance toward me.

"I hope," Yuuko says, her voice so unnaturally calm it actually puts me on edge, "you are not thinking of imposing upon our honored guest."

"I'd never dream of such a thing," Hibiki says dismissively, waving her hand and turning on the spot. She walks away without another word, which is quite rude from my understanding of this land's culture.

Yuuko ignores the slight, her placid demeanor unmoved. Once Hibiki is far enough away that I believe she's out of earshot, even for a kitsune, I turn my back to her. She looked to be going toward one of the huts, so it's none of my concern what she does, so long as I'm left to have my peace.

Which, now that I'm relatively alone with Yuuko, I can try to find out if there will be peace at all.

She smiles plainly and nods at me, and says, "I hope my sisters have not caused you too much trouble, Egil."

"They've mostly kept their distance."

"Their curiosity has been remarkably restrained this winter," Yuuko says. "Hopefully my sisters here will be so busy they remember their manners. However, if they don't," she smiles gently, with more warmth than Rin, but with a dangerously serene narrowing of her eyes that's uniquely Yuuko, "you can send them to me, and I will be glad to set them right."

I nod guardedly. "I'll keep that in mind, thank you."

"It is only proper manners as host," she says politely, dipping her head. She straightens back up and gestures with her hand toward a path leading to a clearing, bereft of snow, in the village center. "If you do not mind waiting to rest your feet, I'd like to explain why I pleaded for your assistance. And show you, as well."

I motion for her to lead the way, and she starts to, but stops and gives me an oddly questioning smile. She says, "Forgive my own curiosity, but is it typical for men to follow women where you are from?"

"I don't recall it being unusual," I admit. "If someone wanted to walk ahead they did, and if they were hosts, well, they knew the way better than guests."

She seems to accept that. "Well, do take care in this land when you are out among people and not kitsune. Proper etiquette is for men to lead, while women walk behind."

I ask, "And among kitsune, what is polite?"

"In our family, we don't have a preference. I only mention it in the hopes to save you future trouble," Yuuko says, beginning to walk and motioning for me to join.

"You've got my thanks for that," I reply carefully, only getting a soft smile in response.

Since we're only going to the clearing, I walk beside her, trying not to think too much about what she meant by the ways of etiquette. I do keep a noticeable, but not too rude, distance between us. She doesn't seem to care one way or the other, which is almost relieving – not that I'm too trusting of my ability to judge the kitsune sisters after the last few weeks.

We head for a spot maybe fifteen paces across and roughly circular. It's rather flat, obviously recently worked, and ringed in with smooth stones as big as my head. We're a good fifty strides, at least, from the river, and twenty from the nearest hut. Looking it over I blink, and realize there are rough wooden stakes set in a square shape in the middle of the clearing. I didn't just overlook them, I did not see them at all until only a moment ago. I look, truly focus my sight and mind, half-expecting to see through more of whatever glamour tricked me.

Nothing else shows itself.

"Is it right to assume," Yuuko begins, stopping outside the ring of stones, "that you've been told about my plan to purify Taro of the evil he took in, and how I need assistance building a proper structure?"

"I have, but I don't know many details," I say, choosing to let her tell me what she will. I don't think it's my place to ask too much about the half-kappa, lest the unease in my gut turn into something that will make me put a blade through the man-eater's heart.

There's a quiet rustle of cloth as Yuuko folds her hands in front of her. "My apologies. I didn't think it wise to send Hibiki with all but the simplest of messages. Not when she has to report to eldest sister."

Unbecoming curiosity urges me to ask about the animosity between Rin and Hibiki, but I don't think it's a good time. Or my place to ask one of Rin's sisters, when I could ask the nine-tail myself. Instead, partly to distract myself, I gesture to the wooden stakes that were under some sort of glamour. "Is there a reason to hide something that's not even built yet?"

The four tailed Yuuko looks at me, but there's not much aside from a soft, unbothered smile on her face. "It appears I need to practice if I ever hope to catch up to my elder sisters' skills," she muses. "I have a long way to go if you saw through the final design I'd hoped to show you."

I raise a brow at her. Not only for the kind of trickery it would've been to show me a complete project, only to make it vanish, but for how useful it would be to know what it's supposed to look like. It also shows her foresight, and a bit of mischievousness, even if both failed. "I only missed the four stakes. Otherwise it's clearing fenced in with rocks."

"Hm." She looks at the patch of dirt. "I don't suppose you've been seeing through any of my sisters' illusions as well?"

I think back to my first meeting with Rin, and how I saw past her magic in the garden. But I did not defeat all of her illusions, as she kept her white as snow hair completely hidden from my eyes for weeks, even when she was right beside me many times.

"I did see through a few of Rin's," I answer. "I'm not sure if you kitsune appearing as simple women is an illusion either, as I haven't seen past that despite noticing the shadows. Unless there's been more times I shouldn't have seen something and didn't know."

"If you've seen through any of Rin's illusions," Yuuko says with a softening smile, "I do not feel so lacking. Perhaps you've simply seen so much in your travels that you can see what truly is more clearly. Especially when you have foreknowledge, perhaps?"

"Rin can still appear as she isn't to my eyes," I say, unsure of whether I mean her hair or how she can appear as a human woman of this land.

"And can I?" Yuuko asks.

I glance over, and almost miss her. I have to look down a little more, as the furred fox woman is no longer beside me. Instead, there's a shorter human woman, her skin pale and unblemished, standing beside me. If it weren't for the dress and her black hair held back by a jade ornament, I'd have guessed her as someone else. The thin smile on her lips is amused by whatever face I must be making. I shake my head and look up at the clouds, feeling strangely exasperated.

"Now you have me wondering if you kitsune looking human is any sort of glamour at all."

"Perhaps one day you'll know the truth," she says softly, almost laughing.

When I look down, it doesn't surprise me at all that she's back to how I know her, a fox in the shape of a woman, standing at least a head taller than she did in her human guise.

"Perhaps it would be better to show you sketches of the design," she says. "We've already got the lumber selected, and some of it hewn, but we simply do not have skilled enough hands to cut the joinery. Not with Natsuki sick, Hotaru far too busy to take over, and Setsuko hundreds of li away."

"So what is it I need to build, some sort of cage?" I ask, happy to focus the conversation back on why I came down the mountain in the first place.

"That is what we will be building," Yuuko says. "You might consider it a shrine and a cage. However, that's finer woodwork that I wish to trust to Natsuki once she's well. What I need is a sturdy roof to keep me and all the herbs I'll be burning dry, with those stakes marking where I'd like the posts."

"How sturdy of a roof are we talking about?"

"I'll show you," she says, motioning for me to walk with her to the nearby hut.

I breathe out, trying to put aside any worried thoughts, and follow the kitsune. She hasn't shown interest in me beyond what I can doto help and as a gracious host, but I already know that means nothing. At least I have the excuse of work to get done for an escape, if I need it.

---

I hardly needed to concern myself, as Yuuko focuses solely on what needs to be done. She shows me drawings of the structure she wants me to build, done in ink on expensive looking paper with quite graceful brushwork, and we discuss the details. It's going to be four main pillars, connected with beams on the outside, and then the frame for a slanted roof. At first I don't understand how it's supposed to fit together, but she explains it by drawing out the notches that need to be cut into the logs they'll use as beams. As for the actual roof, she assures me that they can put that together themselves. It's as she said earlier, her sisters most skilled with axes either aren't even near the mountain right now, are sick and resting, or too busy with other work.

After I'm confident I understand the plans, and Yuuko tells me I can have the hut near the worksite to myself, she makes certain I have all the tools I'll need, showing me to the nearby hut. There's only one dull chisel, but at least there are several axes with different head sizes. There's also enough string and charcoal for me to measure and mark as needed. I ask about a wooden mallet, and she takes me to another hut where they're apparently keeping most of the tools. I take what I need, including an extra axe, a wood spade, and a metal tipped hoe, and then she leads me to all of the logs they had gathered and started working on.

To my great relief, she doesn't want them hewn into pretty looking timbers. So I can skip making them properly squared beams, otherwise I'd be here until all the sick kitsune are well again. She shows me measurements, and I start marking a few things out with an axe I took, not wanting to risk charcoal markings that could be worn away on accident.

Afterwards, I leave the tools I took back at the hut I'll be staying in, then meet Yuuko back outside.

"I should be able to get the bottom framed in only a day or two," I say, "depending on how hard the ground is. But if I'm working alone, it will take me a while to get the higher work done, as I'll need to use a lot of rope and muscle."

"If we can spare you any assistance we will, but we've got to keep watch over so much land, I fear we won't be able to be of much use until our ill sisters are fit to work again."

"As long as you understand it won't get done right away, and that I'm no carpenter."

"I saw you working before, when we were all in the village, and I am confident in your skill to handle an axe precisely," Yuuko says, a remorseful look crossing her face for a moment. The village's demise seems to weigh on her as well, but she continues speaking, fully in control of herself. "It is winter work, so even with spring creeping in closer please do be mindful of the cold."

"I will," I nod. "But seeing how there's not snow piled up to my chest, or even hip, I'd say the weather is rather pleasant compared to what I grew up around."

"Don't let the chill set into you as well, please," she says, a bit of mirth in her otherwise serious voice.

"I'll be fine."

"As you say," she nods, almost certainly hoping I follow her advice. "Now then, Egil, how about we see to getting you a meal before nightfall?"

I almost say something about that being far off, but I look at the sun's position in the sky before being rash. There's maybe a tenth of the day's light left with how close the sun hangs near the horizon. Seeing that, I nod and say, "That sounds good after walking most of the day."

"You'll be very well fed, what with all the work you have ahead of you," Yuuko says, turning and going toward one of the huts farther off.

I think about asking to eat in the hut I'm staying in, but quickly make up my mind and follow her instead. Better to show some politeness to my hosts and be personable than hide away.

She takes me near the one housing the sick kitsune are – no doubt avoiding that one to let them get more rest, if not keep me from falling ill as well – and leads me to a different building. She opens the rough door without announcing herself. There's smoke drifting out from the roof, so I know a fire is within, and with the door moved open, I can smell the cooking as well.

I duck in after Yuuko enters, wary of hitting my head on the beams just a little too low for someone of my height, and see two more kitsune around the hearth. They're roasting fish, that I'm quite surprised to see are fresh catches, over the fire while also tending two pots.

I take in each of the kitsune with a watchful, cautious eye, trying not to make my observation come across as anything untoward. The first is a five tail with white markings above her brow and lines running down the fur from the far edges of her eyes, like a line tears would follow if her head was tilted back. She looks at me with simple curiosity. There is a strangely mystical look to her, but otherwise nothing about her strikes me as dangerous, not even how she stares at me. The three-tail opposite to her, however, does strike me as a potential danger. Her blue, almost gray, eyes focus in on me, and a thin smile spreads across her fox face. Her white tipped ears perk up in my direction as well, reminding me far too much of how Miki would look at me. In fact, she may have been one of the kitsune watching me all too eagerly with Miki.

"Egil. This is Hotaru," Yuuko says, motioning to the five-tail who bows softly from her seated position. Yuuko continues, gesturing to the three-tail, "And Akemi."

Akemi smiles at me with a bit too much intrigue burning in her eyes for my liking.

I nod gravely to no one, partly because they both know me already but mostly to keep any kitsune from thinking I favor them in any way. Caution can't do me wrong here.

"Sit, please, and rest by the fire," Yuuko says. She fusses with some furs, placed equally between her sisters, before backing up a crouched half-step.

"Thank you," I say, walking toward the fire and keeping both Akemi and Hotaru in the edges of my sight. I start to sit on my knees, as everyone else in this land seems to, but swiftly decide against it once I get on the ground. My legs, no longer needing to carry me ever onward, are too weary and chilled for that. I sit cross legged, and say, "I hope you don't mind my poor manners."

"Relaxing at a day's end is hardly poor manners," Yuuko says.

"If anything," Hotaru adds, "we should probably all be apologizing for never asking if you're accustomed to sitting as we do."

"That is eldest sister's place, is it not?" Akemi asks in a lilting, sweet voice that I immediately mistrust. As if she's trying to sound more naive than she actually is.

Or maybe I'm sensitive because Rin was brought up, and because I was around Hibiki most of the morning. I keep a level head and tongue, and say, "It is no trouble, I'm quite used to adapting to local customs. When they're sensible, of course."

"And if they aren't?" Akemi asks, seemingly a little too eager to speak with me.

"I'm either too useful or amusing for my hosts to stay annoyed with me since I look quite the barbarian to most I've met. Something many merchants and low nobles find entertaining," I say, smiling at the thought of how many of them thought it hurt my dignity to be treated that way. A free meal and shelter was very much worth the price. "Or, if a custom is too unbearable, I find a good excuse to leave as quickly as I can, without causing too much offense."

Akemi looks ready to say something else, but Yuuko speaks first. "Do feel free to tell us if something bothers you, Egil. You are an honored guest of our eldest sister, after all." Yuuko takes a small, deliberate glance in Akemi's direction before continuing. "And, if it is not rude of me to say so, it seems you and Rin have become good friends as well. It'd be rude of us not to make your stay with us as welcoming as we can."

I get the feeling Akemi just got told to mind her manners and that Rin has her eye on me in the same breath that Yuuko strove to make me feel more welcome on the mountain.

"I will keep that in mind. Thank you," I say, glancing at Hotaru as she offers me a wooden bowl.

I accept it, and the five-tail gives me a cup of hot water before she starts ladling stew for me. Akemi flicks an ear, no doubt unhappy she wasn't quick enough to serve me, but she keeps quiet and prepares a bowl for Yuuko.

No kitsune is close enough to put their tail against me without it being noticed by the group, so I feel a bit of safety as I eat. I keep my eyes down, not wishing to catch sight of their teeth, and try to taste the food this time. A mild stew, made from some kind of root vegetable, millet, and what tastes like smoked fish pass my tongue and warm up my bones. It's nothing special, but being handed one of the fish that has been roasting over the small fire deepens my appetite. Head to tail it's longer than the length between my palm and finger tips, and I have no idea how they got such a catch in winter. Nor do I particularly care at this moment, when it smells so good.

Before I eat the fish, however, I look up at Yuuko. "I'm not familiar with the waters here, but I have been warned about small bones. Is this one of those fish?"

"No, not that sort of fish," she replies. "The bones are simple and easy to eat around. But now that you mention it, we have Hotaru to thank for the fresh fish. She's quite skilled at trapping even fish in winter."

"With those enchanted flames she loves using, no less," Akemi adds.

Hotaru's ears twitch, and she almost looks embarrassed. By what Yuuko or Akemi said, I'm unsure, so I try to be gentle and say, "A useful trick, for sure."

"It is indeed," Yuuko agrees, tilting her head just a little, as if daring Akemi to say anything else.

The three-tail keeps her mouth shut, and Hotaru takes the chance to finally speak up. "I learned it by accident, I must admit. And it's not that useful, as it's a skill I've failed to teach any of my sisters."

Many tails move slightly, and Yuuko says, "She's too modest. The same way moths are drawn to a lamp's flame, she can draw in all sorts of creatures."

"It is a talent that might be hers alone," Akemi says, a bit reluctantly.

Yuuko is quick to add, "All of us have given up learning, despite Hotaru's willingness to teach, so the fault is on us, not her."

"It's nothing special," Hotaru insists. "Not when I am almost useless with all other magic."

"That's what you have sisters for," Akemi says.

Their chatter goes on, as if they're talking to try and impress me or keep the air from falling silent, but none of it engages me beyond nodding and replying simply when prompted. It is interesting to hear lively talk, however, and the meal passes quickly because of it.

Once I've emptied my bowl a second time, I turn down another helping. Yuuko sees that as the perfect opportunity to speak up, ending Akemi and Hotaru's impossible to follow talk about music they'd fallen into.

"Egil," Yuuko says, "would you accompany me on delivering Hibiki her meal before it gets too dark?"

I think about it for a moment, weighing whether I should say no, or if I even can. The patient, almost uninterested look in Yuuko's eyes leads me to believe I should be safe enough to say yes. And my legs, stiff as they are, could use a bit of movement before I retire to the hut I've been given.

Finishing my warm water, I make up my mind. "I will."

---

Akemi and Hotaru ready two small pots, one with steamy water and the other a hearty helping of stew, while Yuuko retrieves something made from woven reeds from the rafters. I try my best to not look like my legs are a little sore and do some stretching of my previously broken arm. It feels as if my strength is returning swifter than it should, but I won't argue with that.

The kitsune finish up, and soon Yuuko is holding two covered pots in woven slings, no doubt to keep her hands safe from the heat. Tied onto the pots is an earthenware cup and spoon, each positioned high enough up to avoid banging into the pot as she walks.

"I can carry those for you," I say, silently hoping Yuuko is indeed as reasonable as she seems and won't misinterpret my words or intent. I'm almost certainly too on edge about the kitsune, but Shizuka and Miki have given me plenty of recent reasons to be.

"Are you certain?"

I hold a hand out as my answer. She looks a little conflicted, as if weighing whether she should let a guest do something so mundane, but the answer comes to her quick enough. She hands off both pots and then gets the door.

"Should one of us go with you to relieve Hibiki's watch?" Hotaru asks.

Yuuko glances back and says, "Not unless you want her to be upset with you."

"That bad of a mood?"

"It appears so," Yuuko answers before slipping out into the dusk outside.

I duck out of the low doorway, careful not to let the pots I'm holding awkwardly in the makeshift nets scrape along the cold ground. One of the kitsune in the hut moves the door back once I'm outside. The sun has already dipped beyond the horizon, the sky a blue fading into black as night approaches. But there's still enough light for me to walk by comfortably, and for when there isn't, Yuuko holds her tails up and conjures bright blue flames at the end of each.

"Hibiki should be by the hut we're keeping Taro trapped in," Yuuko says, leading the way. "We've been keeping a constant watch on him, just to be safe."

My fingers tighten against the crudely woven fibers at the name, but I keep my tongue still. It's not my place to judge the man-eater that doomed this village, not when it matters to Rin. Not when they're trying to save what's left of a person inside of Taro. They don't need to hear my thoughts about how he's beyond saving after how he partook in eating the people of his village. If the kitsune have magic so potent it can bring him back, then let them try. And if it fails...

My full hand bumps the hilt of my sword. One of us can end the half-kappa if we have to.

"Is something amiss, Egil?" Yuuko asks.

I begin to say no, but catch myself and avoid speaking rashly. It's no secret to Saki and Rin how I despise man-eaters. I may as well let the other sisters know. "I'm not used to leaving man-eaters alive."

"Do you speak of the oni, or Taro?"

"I'd only leave that oni alive if he killed me before I could deal a mortal blow."

Yuuko glances toward me, as if trying to judge whether I'm boasting or serious. The faint smile on her face hardens as she looks away, no doubt aware that I speak with conviction. "So it is about Taro, then."

"I saw what he did. To his family, the village, and himself. I cannot forget that. But I won't act unless a life is in danger."

"Perhaps it will ease you to know that Rin and I truly believe there's something left of the young man that can be saved." Her gait slows, and she adds, "But, I also believe Rin will understand if you have to act. For her sake, however, I hope it doesn't need to come to that."

My feet slow down, boots coming to a crunching halt on the ice. Yuuko looks over her shoulder with a reserved curiosity. "Something is amiss," she states. "It is all over your face."

I speak carefully, trying not to give away what might be my obvious feelings for the far away nine-tails. "What does this village mean to your family?"

There's a sly upturn to Yuuko's smile. "Do you mean that, or why my eldest sister wants to save Taro?"

Any answer I give will tip a scale in one direction or another. So I stop trying to weigh what is the safest thing to say and speak my mind. "Both."

"I fear I can only explain it crassly, given how little light we have left."

"Then speak freely with me, please. I much prefer that, as Saki and Rin can tell you."

"If that is your wish," she says, continuing when I hastily nod. "The village was our mother's idea. It started so she could indulge some of her," Yuuko's face sours, "indiscretions. But after a few years it also became a refuge for some of her, and our own, genuine friends that didn't know who we truly are. For us, you might call it a duty, but never a burden, to watch over their descendants."

I'm not so sure about it not being a burden. "And what of Rin?"

Yuuko doesn't look pleased with how I'm potentially asking if Rin feels differently. "For eldest sister, I suspect she saw them as distant kin adopted into the family," she says. "As many of us do. She did also enjoy coming to the village, pretending to be a mere servant of the unseen lord of the mountain, so that may be why she wants to so desperately save anyone remaining that she can."

"That's not all that moves her, is it?" I ask.

"How Rin feels is not for me to say, as I do not know. Nor," she adds, faint smile returning, "should we keep Hibiki waiting, since she's watching our treasured and hated captive. Difficult as she can be, I worry she may be worse if she's left without a warm dinner."

Without any good way to reply, and knowing when a conversation is at an end, I trudge forward. Yuuko gracefully turns and glides forward, walking with a soft step. Closer to how Rin walks than Saki, I notice, her poise refined and natural, but not quite floating across the ground.

I try not to think too much and just follow the flames on the end of Yuuko's tails. I almost succeed, but the walk isn't long enough for me to quiet my mind.

All too soon, we're at a hut, where instead of a fire inside, there's a small one outside. A shelter was built near the hut entrance, little more than a break against wind and rain to keep a patch of ground dry enough to sleep on. And sitting with her back to a small, rock ringed fire is Hibiki. The six-tail is sharpening a dagger's point, and from the twist and twitch of her ears, I know she senses us approaching. But she remains seated and silent even when Yuuko is only a few paces away and giving a soft bow.

Seeing she'll have to be the first to speak, Yuuko asks, "How is the captive?"

"Angry as always," Hibiki says. "Still calling us beasts and monsters, and trying to bite off fingers."

"I'm sure I will be hearing nothing but his ranting soon," Yuuko says, turning toward me.

I think I should offer the pots to Hibiki, but instead Yuuko strides forward and takes them from me. The four-tail starts setting them up for her sister, and I'm left standing to the side, watching and waiting uncomfortably. In part because there's a man-eater only a few paces away, with nothing but the cob and wood wall of a hut keeping it away from me. And, perhaps just as importantly, also keeping my sword from piercing its heart.

I breathe out mist into the creeping night and rub my fingers together to coax some warmth into them. And perhaps try to take my thoughts from dark paths as well.

With a meal ready before her, Hibiki nods to her sister. "Thank you, Yuuko. Hotaru's cooking will make my night a little warmer, if nothing else." The six-tail's arrogant smirk edges onto her face. "It still astounds me that she no longer burns the food."

"I hardly remember, seeing as that was before my time," Yuuko says, eliciting a widening grin from Hibiki. But the four-tail is quick to stop any further comments, bowing and saying, "If that will be all, sister, I still need to escort Egil back, then check in on Miki and our unfortunately ill sisters."

Is there significance to Yuuko not referring to Hibiki as her elder sister? I think there might be, but I have seen other kitsune avoid such politeness today.

With how Hibiki's smile calms, I think there might be a verbal jab in it after all. She nods to Yuuko, but doesn't let us part in peace just yet. The six-tail turns her gaze to me and says, "If the night is too cold for you, I'm certain I can find you extra furs." She shows the back of her teeth in that malevolent mirth of her hers. "Or at least show you to one of my sisters, if you'd prefer one of them help."

My first thought is too dangerous to speak aloud, that none of the kitsune here have enough tails for that. I try to work up a quick reply safer than that, but Yuuko speaks up swiftly.

"You must think poorly of our honored guest," Yuuko sternly rebukes, "to even suggest he would disrupt the watch. I hope your manners, and memory of how he has wished to be treated, improves overnight, Hibiki."

Yuuko offers no chance for a response, simply turning and walking away. I choose to join her and follow the four blue flames, not even giving the six-tail the acknowledgment I'm sure she thirsts for. To my surprise, Hibiki says nothing else, letting us depart without another baiting jab or comment.

The sound of crunching ice is all that follows us for several dozen paces, my boots filling the silence with each step.

Until, near the hut I've been given, Yuuko lets out a weary sigh. "I apologize for my sister. She tries to pick fights with or upset almost everyone."

"I know how some family can be, thanks to cousins who'd do similar," I say, nodding to the four-tail. "But thank you for the rescue from it all the same, Yuuko."

"It's nothing. As for her, she's a lot easier to handle in the summer, when she can go out." She sighs again, collecting herself a little. "I don't suppose you know any secrets to handling family like our Hibiki?"

"Unfortunately, sometimes even a few blood spilling blows to the face can't sort some people out."

"I was afraid of that," Yuuko says with a slow shake of her head, her pulled back hair swishing. "But she will do her duty when it comes down to it, so we needn't worry about that. Only her rude tongue."

"So long as she knows when to work with others."

"Thankfully Saki hammered that into Hibiki long before I was born."

We say nothing else until we reach the hut I'll be staying in. Once we stand outside, she glances at me and asks, "Would you like me to start the fire for you?"

She waves one of her tails lightly, the flame at the tip swaying unnaturally.

"No thank you," I say, not wishing to take the risk of letting a kitsune into the hut with me. Even if she's been tolerable, if not pleasant to work with, I have enough troubles right now. "I don't sleep much, so getting some coals going will give me something to do while I wait for sleep to come."

"As you say," she bows, expression simple and unchanged. She probably was only offering to use her magic to help with the fire, but I'd rather not take chances today. "Then I will leave you to your rest, Egil. I'll also see to it that my sisters understand you want your privacy."

I bow back, slightly. "You'd have my gratitude if you could get that across to them. I worry some of them don't understand it."

"Before I leave, I'll stand outside to give you some light," Yuuko says, crossing her hands in front of her and lowering two of her tails.

Seeing that as a good enough excuse to go inside, I give her one last nod, open the door to the hut, and duck in. It takes me longer than I'd like to gather up the tinder and small sticks for starting a fire, considering it's all conveniently stored inside, but I do get a healthy flame going after a few strikes of steel to flint. The blue light outside fades once the fire begins to glow and smoke in the hearth. Yuuko, somehow, closes the door to the hut without me noticing, and I'm alone for the first time since departing the kitsune's mountain home.

As I feed wood to the flames and arrange a sleeping spot, my thoughts drift helplessly. From the man-eater in the village to the one in the forest. Whether I should worry about the intentions of Hibiki, or any other kitsune in this village for that matter. If I can manage to have a night without an unwelcome visitor or not.

Sitting on a pile of furs on top of a woven mat, I stare at the embers building up. I can't do anything about the man-eaters, neither Taro nor the oni Kenta, right now. So it will do me no good to dwell on them. As for the kitsune in the village, tomorrow will tell whether there will be problems with them or not. Which leaves me with far more tiring thoughts to turn back on.

My fingers find the cords about my neck, but instead of going for the silver rune, they touch the charm given to me by Saki and Rin.

It takes me a long time to sort through the feelings and thoughts binding up and tangling in my chest, so long in fact that the fire demands more wood or else it'll be a bed of dying coals. I feed the flames, breathing them back to life, all while I feel a crushing sense of something missing hang about my shoulders and sink into the pit of my gut. Touching the charm on my neck again, and feeling the muscles in my back loosen just a little, a realization strikes me almost painfully.

I long for Rin and Saki to be at my sides.

It's such an obvious, uncomplicated desire. One that feels fresh and deadly sharp every time I stumble back into it, but sitting here, with the two of them a very long walk away, it sinks in how deeply I want them both. To feel their warm tails against my back, their presence, and much more. The two of them right beside me, with my arms draped over their shoulders, and soft conversation flowing among us is the only thing that would bring me peace right now.

How my ancestors must laugh at me, and how dangerous the younger kitsune sisters might be if they knew of my feelings.

"I should at least pretend to sleep," I mutter to myself. "Before I tear my hair out."

I lay down, but not before removing my boots and belt. Once I'm on my back, my hand holds the gifted charm to my chest, while the other pulls furs over top of me. I stare up at the ceiling, lit by flickering shadows of a dying fire, and strangely find my eyes drifting shut. It must be all the walking that's making me so tired. Because that longing to have Saki and Rin beside me is burning so bright, I doubt I'll be able to sleep at all. But better to have that than the misery of being on edge from what lurks in the forest, surely.