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Thanks to Supreme Distraction for Beta-ing this!

Nine Tales of the Gumiho

Tale 1

~The Fox and the Bunny~

This had to be a nightmare. The Field of Justice that the swordswoman and her teammates currently fought on wasn't helping with diminishing that notion.

The Twisted Treeline's thick unnatural fog encircled the area, functioning as a ghostly wall to keep everything out, and the champions in. With a dreaded jungle separating the two lanes, Riven had been elected to take the upper one whilst her teammates took the lower.

The remains of her Noxian battle-armour did little to protect her from the frigid breeze.

The thought of being here on a Field of Justice didn't settle well with the Noxian; she shouldn't even be here. She was wasting precious time that could've been used to cover ground, to keep her moving forward on her ever-lasting journey.

But the ruined city and gnarly, haunted forest wasn't scaring the Exile. No, what sent a shiver down her spine was not the idea of the horrors that lurked in the jungle, nor was it the rumoured undead monstrosities that stalked in the mists – the source of Riven's fear, these past few months, was—

As she cut through the group of enemy minions coming her way, a giggle – a womanly, cheerful sound – set off a red flag at the back of Riven's head mind and she raised her black stone rune sword in front of her, peering ahead.

This had to be a nightmare. And hopefully, she'd wake up soon.

She barely registered that someone had moved around her until she managed to dodge an azure bolt just in time, and again as it rocketed back to the caster. She spotted a pair of bright yellow eyes, and the warrior's body tensed up.

"I knew you would be here…" Her voice was smooth and vixenish, and the woman observed Riven with bedroom eyes. "Why do you keep running away, darling?"

The Exile's heart skipped a beat. It always did nowadays whenever a certain mage was involved.

The woman's right hand glowed pink as she raised it to her lips and, with a wink, blew a kiss towards the ash-blonde warrior, who, in a surge of panic and adrenaline, barely managed to evade the magical projectile. She stumbled, but quickly regained her footing, eyes focused on the enemy champion.

The women chuckled. "Such a tease you are, playing hard to get."

"Silence," Riven retorted. She kept her guard up, but she didn't dare attack – her abilities required for her to be close to her target, and the Nine-Tailed Fox was the last person she wanted to get too close to.

Ahri feigned a hurt expression and rested a hand above her breast. "You wound me, my dear. All I want is to whisper sweet nothings to you…"

"Be quiet!"

The fox-woman chuckled, batting her eyelashes. "Feisty…I like that; makes the reward all the sweeter!"

Fight or flight – this time, like many other times, Riven chose flight and hurried back to her side of the lane as she cursed under her breath. For too long had the Nine-Tailed Fox hounded her, and the chilling fear that settled in the swordswoman's spine was ever present as always. Ever since that day…

/Crystal Scar, 6 months ago.

The former mining village of Kalamanda was once again seeing its streets soaked with red as the two opposing forces battled for dominion. Riven had already helped seize the Windmill, the Drill, and the Refinery thus tipping the battle in their favour, but the warrior was far from pleased; her summoner had apparently decided that a battle-bunny-outfit that left little to imagination was fitting battle-attire, and as such had left her to the mercy of the occasional cat-calls from male champions. Not that she couldn't give them a proper thrashing after the battle. And the enemy champions got to taste the end of her blade right away.

The Field of Justice was vast and the battle had been going well when the swordswoman decided to head for the Quarry. No-one else was in sight; this was perfect. All she had to do was to cover the distance and –

She heard a soft laugh and a red flag went off in the back of her mind. Riven dashed back in time to avoid an aquamarine orb that otherwise would've hit her as it zipped back to the caster: The Nine-Tailed Fox.

"Impressively done, Exile," Ahri – a woman with long, silky white hair, garbed in a black bodysuit and a wine-red head guard, shoulder and arm-guards, and footgear – said. Truly an imposing challenger. She batted her eyelashes at the Noxian, hand on hip, as she pursed her lips. "Mhmm… I knew you looked cute, but seeing you like this really does it for me~"

Riven shivered with disgust. Was the fox-woman hitting on her? As if dirty-minded men weren't enough…

"Mm…I've heard that you're a wanderer… such a shame, really. My humble abode has enough room for one more, you know," Ahri commented. She was licking her lips and Riven grimaced, not solely because of the Nine-Tailed Fox, but because none of her teammates seemed to be nearby.

"Enough talk," the Exile retorted. "You've crossed the line!" Battle-Bunny or not, Riven activated Valour and lunged forward, shield intact, to strike the mage-

The Gumiho laughed and summersaulted out of the way as fire – shimmering, lilac-red flames – appeared around her and without warning travelled towards Riven, burning her with magic as she struggled in vain to shield herself.

"Poor little thing," the mage taunted. "What good is that sword if you can't get close?"

´Can't get close, can't I?´ With a bellowing war cry the warrior surged forward thanks to Broken Wings and, with sword held high, lashed out at the fox-woman, rending earth and splitting stone as –

"I'm over here, darling!"

What?!

Riven cast Broken Wings, flipping towards the ever-elusive mage-

The Nine-Tailed Fox laughed airily as she dodged the swordswoman's attacks, dashing out of her range and keeping herself at a distance, all while winking, sticking out her tongue, and anything else just to taunt her!

Riven bristled, but immediately forced herself to calm down. "Focus is essential" her old drill sergeant used to say. So focus she did and with Valour she closed the distance between herself and the mage, and with a Ki Burst she stunned the other woman! She raised her blade skyward-

"A necessary strike."

But it wasn't fear that lingered in ruby orbs. No, the fox was grinning at her! A moment of hesitation had the Noxian freeze up and a red flag went off again – she looked over her shoulder-

´No!´

How had they gotten so far away from the Quarry? What's more, that wasn't her teammates seizing control of it!

´She lured me away –!´

"Playtime's over, my little bunny~" Riven heard Ahri's voice – she was right next to the Exile! "Time for some real fun…!"

Alarmed, the Exile dashed away just in time to avoid the fox's Charm and she poised into a fighting stance-

The air was knocked out of her lungs as Ahri's Orb of Deception shot right through her, and then back again. She fell to the ground, gasping and unable to move.

´I was…careless…´

"My apologies, my little bunny," Ahri said. She sauntered over and kneeled down before the defeated champion, her sharp-fingered gloves managing to carefully lift Riven's head up. "I promise you that I'll find you again and when I do, I'll be nothing but gentle."

Riven didn't know what she meant until full, scarlet lips were wetted and pursed, and leant in for what Riven feared to be a kiss, but thankfully she dissipated before Ahri could have her "fun." /

Ever since then, the Nine-Tailed Fox had hauntingly enough kept her promise: she had managed to catch up to the wanderer a few times, and only by sheer luck had Riven managed to shake the mage off her trail – Ahri's doggedness was impressive, if not scary.

But no matter how long she managed to distance herself from Ahri outside of the Fields of Justice, it was on the very same fields that the Gumiho always found her. The Exile had participated in enough League battles at this point that she knew all too well that the fox-mage easily got under her ski and mess with her mind, and she dared not fight, lest Ahri win and try something again.

She wasn't a coward, but she just couldn't focus with that fox around. Something about her – something the warrior wouldn't dare admit even to herself – was affecting Riven in a way that she didn't know how to respond.

"Don't hold back, Riven!" the fox-woman shouted after her. "I know what you desire!"

What she desired? There was no way she could know. The fighter didn't need anyone or anything else – she was a lone wolf. "My only desire is to be rid of you, tormentor!"

"You're rejecting me?" The fox was following her! Even though Riven's team's minions were charging at the enemy champion, the mage merely moved out of the way – graciously like a dance – and continued her chase. "If you're rejecting me… I guess I just have to keep pursuing you~!"

The Exile gritted her teeth. What was wrong with this woman? It wasn't that she was ugly – heavens above, the mage was indeed easy on the eyes – but this manic, possessive demeanour of hers was nothing but creepy.

The lane wasn't too long, but the fighter had managed to push deep into enemy territory when she had decided to escape the Gumiho.

Pain shot through her back and abdomen and Riven staggered forward, air knocked out of her lungs. She caught glimpse of the familiar arcane bolt that pierced through–

´NO!`

-and pummelled back into the Noxian, returning to its caster as Riven fell limply to the ground and curled into a ball from the agony. She cursed under her breath – she cursed her (lack of) luck and she cursed the fox-woman who was casually sashaying over to the fallen champion, tails wiggling and long ebon hair dancing in the faint breeze.

"Aw, are you hurt, bunny?" She was standing over the Exile, golden pools focused on the ash-blonde. Pink lips curved upwards in a sly smile. "Let me kiss you better…"

The swordswoman groaned and rolled to the side. If flight didn't work, then she would have to fight! She got up, her midsection hurting like crazy, and raised her blade high.

"Oh my," Ahri commented, not impressed. "Why do you fight me Riven? You'll feel so much better if you-"

´Now!´

Riven activated Broken Wings and charged forward and struck the mage with a single blow– then two, and three, then four – in quick succession and the warrior felt a sense of pride, a strange sense of joy when the Gumiho fell limply to the ground, staining it red.

Her heart was beating fast. The sound of her blood pumping echoing in her ears and wouldn't slow as she observes the dying fox on the ground. The Noxian warrior's eyebrows knitted together and she pointed the end of her blade at the dying champion. "Do yourself a favour and don't try to find me. My hands are already stained."

The Nine-Tailed Fox coughed and forced a smile, but her blanched expression gave away her life-threatening pain. "Ouch…Ngh… Now you've… done it…bunny…"

As the brunette dissipated, Riven's heart raced and she swallowed a breath she didn't know she had been holding. She didn't like the look in Ahri's eyes as she died; the Exile feared she would come to regret this if the sudden pang of guilt was of any indication.

X.x.X.x.X

The moment Riven was summoned back from the battle, she fell face-first into the simple bed in her rented room. Even though champions were fully restored after battles, the swordswoman was sore and overcome with fatigue – both physical and mental – from the nightmare she had lived through for the remainder of her last skirmish.

´Hell hath no fury´ they tend to say, and although Ahri hadn't appeared infuriated, her constant targeting of the Exile was a dead giveaway. The Nine-Tailed Fox had leapt in and out of combat effortlessly, barraging the blonde with Foxfiresand Orbs of Deceptions striking whenever the swordswoman was alone and/or far away, so she couldn't retaliate. It was as if the Gumiho's personality has completely switched: the usual warm, playful look in her eyes was now cold and soulless.

Riven groaned into her pillow. She hoped that she wouldn't be summoned again anytime soon – she had to move first thing in the morning; not just for her journey, but also to keep the fox from catching up with her.

The next morning, the Noxian left at the crack of dawn with enough provisions to last for a few days and continued her journey southwards.

X.x.X.x.X

Two days had gone by and the swordswoman had impressively managed to cover a lot of ground in that time. Nightfall arrived and the campfire was ablaze when Riven finally rested her bones for a spell and ate of her provisions – some bread and a fruit – as she gazed up at the stars. Stargazing allowed her to think clearly about everything and nothing—to reminisce, to dwell on possibilities and mull over her future—but for some time now her thoughts came back to the Nine-Tailed Fox.

She was… many things, really.

Visually, she was drop-dead gorgeous and Riven admitted that the temptation of giving in had occurred to her… When it came to the mage's personality, however, she was a nightmare. If only the Gumiho wasn't such a skirt-chaser, she'd be tolerable.

Riven glanced out into the darkness. ´I wonder if she's still coming after me.´

Finished eating, the swordswoman took her broken blade and stabbed it into the ground so that it stood upright as she sat down and leant against its flat side. She swept her ragged cloak around her and closed her eyes, having made sure that the fire was still strong.

´If she finds me in my sleep, I wonder what she will do.´

X.x.X.x.X

The Exile had travelled for two more days when she was summoned back to the Fields of Justice. She had taken a route that would lead her through the outskirts of the Kumungu Jungle and thankfully she hadn't encountered the fox-woman – though the Exile hadn't been able to shake off the feeling that something was amiss.

She shuddered. The frigid winds of the Howling Abyss cut to the bone but Riven steeled herself – at least she wasn't wearing her Battle-Bunny outfit. To make it even better, it didn't look like Ahri was on the enemy team! The Noxian swordswoman let out a sigh of relief as she greeted her teammates – some of whom she'd met before, like Quinn of Demacia – and prepared herself for the skirmish ahead.

"Minions have spawned"

The fighter rushed ahead without hesitation and her teammates followed suit, barely an arm's length behind her as they charged through falling snow and cold wind, as the enemy champions doing the same. The bridge shook and soon the clash of steel and bellowing war-cries was carried on the wind as the two teams clashed head on in an attempt to crush the other team and get the upper hand.

Riven was pleased. Battle without the fox-woman? Already she was calmer, focused, and more quick-witted without the constant interruption, i.e. the Ionian, and the warrior flourished. The battle went on smoothly and before she knew it, her team had the upper hand. A match without the annoying mage was a breath of fresh air – there was no one to bother the Exile, no-one to throw her off-balance, and no-one to flirt with her!

There would be no fox-woman to get under her skin and disrupt her focus as she cut down the enemy's support. For once, Riven could fight unhindered—without fear of being ambushed by Ahri's Charm!

She should be elated – so why did the Noxian feel that, throughout the whole match, something was missing?

X.x.X.x.X

It had been two days since that battle, and the wandering Exile had travelled along the borders of the Kumungu Jungle as planned. She had come across a small village where she opted to stay for a little while – after all, it didn't seem that the mage was following her anymore. And as much as Riven was glad that she was no longer followed, a part of her kind of missed it.

´Don't tell me I've grown used to her presence.´

The swordswoman groaned. Come to think of it, she hadn't seen Ahri at all since that battle where Riven finally had bested her. It was (supposed to be) a welcome thought to think that the Nine-Tailed Fox was upset about that and no longer took an interest in the Exile, but, instead Riven instead felt guilty.

She sat down on the bed, shoulders slumped. She had rented a room in the first inn she had come across in the village and just in time. It had begun to rain.

The Exile fell onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. Why did it bother her that she had hurt Ahri? It was the mage's fault for sexually assaulting her! Besides, at the time, they were on opposing teams – there's no time for playing and womanizing on the battlefield. So why did it feel as if the warrior was in the wrong?

Riven shook her head, pondering lead her nowhere. At best, she figured that, should she ever encounter the fox again, she'd apologise – make amends – and hopefully, put an end to this!

"You really let your guard down, bunny~"

The Noxian's heart jumped and she spun around, blanched, hazel eyes widened with shock. By the time she was aware that the Gumiho – how and when had she got there?! – stood by the door and blew a kiss-

´What?! No, not like this!´ "Ahri, wait –!"

-a flash of pink struck the Exile at the blink of an eye. Riven's body relaxed, as if in a daze. Why had she thought of escaping again? The lovely Nine-Tailed Fox had finally come for the fighter—to fill the void she had left when she had disappeared.

"You know, foxes want to lure their prey into a false sense of security before moving in for the kill…" Ahri said with a giggle. She crossed the room and caressed the ash-blonde's cheek. "This was well worth the wait… Even though I was rather upset from your cold behaviour last we met, how could I not forgive you when you're looking at me with such bedroom eyes~" She licked her lips and gently squeezed the swordswoman's breasts. "This isn't the Fields of Justice, bunny… You won't be free from my charms anytime soon, so let's find you that bunny outfit I adore so much… Then, when you're all dressed up and proper, I will eat you… all…night…long…"

Ahri's Charm lasted longer outside of the Fields of Justice? Riven couldn't be happier! Why had she rejected the vixenish woman – being with her freed Riven from any burden she carried! The brunette pressed her lips towards the now-willing fighter, exploring her oral cavern and feeling her up, and the fighter surrendered herself to the Gumiho.

It was like a dream; they were together at last! Why had it taken so long for them to reach this point? Riven absolutely loved Ahri! Why shouldn't she let her lover undress her? It felt sooo good to have her breasts fondled by the brunette's talented smooth hands.

The fox-mage chuckled. Her eyes reflected her amorous hunger as she watched Riven's ample chest – firm tan mounds capped with pink buds – heaved with each breath. The Noxian looked so adorable on the bed as she silently asked for more of Ahri's touch, and who was the mage to deny her?

"I like you a lot better when you're obedient," she whispered and the ash-blonde smiled shyly up at her. "Let's get you out of these rags, bunny."

Yes, that sounded like an excellent idea, Riven rationalized. Why did she have to wear such dull clothes? She needed to wear something befitting as lover of the Nine-Tailed Fox!

But first, mistress Ahri would take care of ridding her of her clothes and suckling on her nipple while toying with its twin, forcing a throaty mewl from the swordswoman even as mistress descended further down Riven's body…

Honestly, why had she tried to run away from Ahri again? She thought she knew, but her mind was blank – and maybe that was for the best? Riven was happy enough to please her mistress from now on.

X.x.X.x.X

In the following months, the League didn't hear anything from the Nine-Tailed Fox or the Exile and any attempts to summon either resulted in failure. But rumours had it that in the far reaches of Ionia, there was a fox-woman who was always seen accompanied by an ever-obedient and overly amorous bunny-girl.

Fin