73 Meeting of the Kitsune.
Sitting down, I ran my right hand through the fluffy blonde head of Haruhime as her six fox tails slowly swung back and forth in response to my touch.
On the other side of the traditional Japanese room, Amaterasu drew an inquisitive eyebrow raise to our apparent closeness.
I smiled wryly,
She must be curious about the nature of our relationship… Not that it was not warranted.
Having a potential nine-tailed fox youkai running around was a big deal. While Haruhime was definitely no Youkai, I somehow had a feeling that she would be able to learn their most difficult art: Senjutsu.
I trusted that she would have the necessary talent.
Despite the potential dangers, I think bringing along Haruhime was the right decision.
After taking a bit of time to adjust, she certainly seemed to enjoy this familiar atmosphere. At least going by the wistful smile on her face as she gazed at each part of the traditional Japanese room.
Tsk, I guess the old scars haven't healed yet.
I hope they do in the future…
"You seem to be rather familiar with Japanese traditions," asked Amaterasu, finally breaking the ice.
Haruhime looked at me for a second and nodded affirmatively to the Shinto goddess' question.
"Yes. I had been living in the far-east with my family before…" she didn't complete the sentence. She didn't need to. Just the sag of her fox ears and tails showed what kind of thoughts Haruhime had about it.
Amaterasu was no fool, detecting the detoriating mood, she chose to not push it.
The sad atmosphere seemed to suddenly disappear as Haruhime sent me a bright smile. "... But that doesn't matter. Because I managed to meet Ken-Sama."
"Ken-Sama taught me how to become strong and escape my fate alone!"
She enthusiastically said, and I could see her six tails swish even quicker somehow from the side as her fox ears rose in defiance...
It was always amusing to witness how all the beast-kin's emotions were laid bare if you observe their body language.
A strange silence issued the further Amaterasu seemed to look at Haruhime's bright green eyes.
Haruhime didn't back down from the stare.
Impressive.
Amaterasu sighed, although the expression of slight surprise couldn't be veiled.
"This is not for me to decide."
" But, I'll do what I can."
---
A few minutes passed as I waited in a room prepared by Amaterasu. Just as before, Haruhime sat on my right.
"Who is going to teach me, Ken-Sama?"
I hummed,
"It is going to be someone special. As such, I can't force her to teach you by any means. I'm sure she wouldn't mind teaching you, however."
Haruhime cutely tilted her head, and I had to resist the urge to rub her head again.
"Why?"
"She's a bit like you. You know how your limit is six tails?"
Haruhime nodded,
I grinned, "Well. She actually has nine tails. It's not magic either." I paused at the strange look Haruhime gave me.
Why do I feel like she misunderstood me here?
*Knock* *Knock*
[Yasaka (Divine)- Lv3]
HP: 320000
MP: 180000
Right. I was aiming big.
Yasaka, the Kyoto youkai leader, was right in front of me. She was just as voluptuous as I expected… Yasaka had an appearance of a young woman of medium height. She wore a red shrine maiden Kimono and her blond hair was styled in a high ponytail that reached her feet. I could perfectly count the nine fox tails that rested behind her.
She froze the moment she entered the room, and her golden eyes were intensely fixed on the form of Haruhime— more so, her six tails.
Yasaka's delicate features seemed to get further and further ruined as confusion dominated her expression.
"So what Lady Amaterasu said remains to be true after all…" muttered the youkai leader below her breath, barely enough for me to catch on.
'I should be the last Kitsune. My sister has already... '
A hateful expression lingered on her face for a moment remembering the meeting she was on.
' Stupid old coots. Trying to marry me off to some brute…'
'This little fox doesn't have a sliver of Youjutsu, she would have had at least some if she were a part of the Kitsune bloodline. I'm sure of that.' wondered Yasaka in her mind.
The more she thought about it, the more confused she got. In the end, she just chose to stop thinking about it and politely introduce herself.
Yasaka slightly bent down, that action doing wonderful things for the half-exposed breasts that dared to spill out of her red biddings.
The half-smile on her face as she locked eyes with mine for the faintest of moments made me think that the temptress definitely knew what she was doing.
Ken. Focus.
"What is your name?" Yasaka asked, affectionately rubbing the head of Haruhime.
"Haruhime. Just Haruhime." the little fox answered, a sad expression on her face once she remembered her lost name.
Yasaka looked at me, observing the change in Haruhime's mood.
I shook my head,
Haruhime can tell her herself once she feels comfortable around her. It was not my place to tell her.
Yasaka's corundum took a 180 turn, her eyes shone as she asked the little fox that still stood to my right.
"You want me to instruct you, right?"
"Whether I agree or not remains to be seen, but do tell me."
Her charismatic side was on full throttle, no wonder she was hailed as a leader…
"Why should I teach you? Why do you want to become stronger?"
It was a lot of pressure on little Haruhime. I was tempted to intervene right here and there on her behalf but soon stopped myself mid-way.
It was Haruhime that would stay here. It was Haruhime that would train here. It was Haruhime that would get stronger.
I would not be able to answer that question for her, nor should I.
Haruhime clasped her hands and looked at me for a second before steeping from my side and getting in front of me and holding her gaze with Yasaka.
"I want to stay with Ken-Sama. I want to get strong, so I can keep up with him. Otherwise…."
I sighed softly,
Noting my reaction from the corner of her eyes, Yasaka's lip gained an amused smirk as her golden eyes seemed to shine in mischievousness.
The Kyoto faction leader tilted her head and put her index finger under her chin. She teasingly said with a flirtatious tone looking at me only for the second time since her arrival.
"Ara~ Maybe I'll steal your Ken then."
Yasaka hummed looking at me extensively for a few moments hiding the wide morphing grin gradually forming on her fair expression behind a fan that manifested from thin air.
' His life force is so young, and he's already this strong?!'
Yasaka hummed,
'He doesn't seem arrogant like those young masters...'
Somehow, I felt more violated the more Yasaka gazed at me.
Haruhime squinted her eyes, sharply looking at Yasaka with all her might. Sadly, that only came out as being adorable for both of us.
"Fufufu. I was only joking," calmly said Yasaka, noting Haruhime's reaction.
Haruhime's shoulder sagged in relief, only to tense up again.
"Or was I~"
The conversation continued with the older fox playing the smaller one like a fiddle, practically making her dance to her tune on the palm of her hand.
That was the day when I learned that fox youkai are scary…
"How about we test you first?" said Yasaka clapping her hands together, dispersing the jolly mood
— only for her. Haruhime looked very much on edge.
That was precisely the reason Yasaka was teasing her, Youjustsu mainly ran on emotions.
"Give me your hand. I will be testing your Youjustu."
"Hmm."
Yasaka drew closer to Haruhime and put the palm of her hand just over her forehead. Nothing happened for a few seconds.
Suddenly, a blinding ray shot out of Haruhime's head and extended towards the moon in one brisk movement.
[Inari Okami ( Divine)- Lv2]
HP: 240000
MP:123433
I widened my eyes,
Inari...
I had already thoroughly listened to Haruhime's side of the story about her exile. Inari, the goddess of foxes and agriculture, was the same god that she supposedly ate the offerings of.
Fuck.
"Why can't things be simple for once…"
—
[Akagi Ken(Divine)- Lv2]
HP: 280720
MP: 172500
STR: 270
VIT: 260
DEX: 275
WIS: 285
Skills: GamersMind(Off) - GamersBody - Instinct - Mind'sEye(True) - Mage - Mystery- DivineSmith- Rejuvenation - Shapeshifting - Mixing- DivineTouch- Luck- EndlessLibido- Battlecontinuation- Mana Burst.
Magic:- Warlock - Divine Temporal Spacial mage- Divine Dark/Light mage.
