A Kitsune's Tail

"Mitashi, you will because I say so."

"I won't! I won't marry him!" cried Mitashi, roughly shaking her head, causing tears to fly. Her father's calm demeanor disappeared completely. His face disfigured by a snarl, he grabbed the neck of her kimono and shook her hard. Her head whirled.

"You will!" he roared, ears quivering in rage. He flung her to the floor. Her head slumped forward in a dejected manner. Her father bent down to lift her up by her hair. Just as his hand closed around a handful of black hair, Mitashi's hand and foot shot out. Her foot knocked his legs out from under him. Her hand, glowing blue, plunged into his gut. He yelled in pain and slashed at her face with his claws.

Mitashi ripped out her arm and stumbled back. Lord Aoi, her father, shook with rage and pain.

"How dare you strike me!" His hand glowed bright white for a moment, then a white sword with a black hilt appeared in his hand. Mitashi's eyes widened and she scrambled back, to get out the door, into the courtyard, where someone might help her.

The courtyard was always full of people. But who would dare oppose her father? Jishi! Jishi would help her! The soldier was always stationed nearby. He knew how her father was. He would help.

Her claws ripped trough the flimsy paper door and she fell out into the mud, staining her kimono along with her father's blood. She crawled out of the puddle she was in and looked around the courtyard. The empty courtyard. Where is everyone? She thought. There are always people here. A loud footstep seemed to echo behind her.

Oh, no. He'll kill me for sure this time. Dear god, I'm going to die…It ran through her head like a chant. A loud crack behind her made her turn around. Lord Aoi stood in the doorway, pieces of the door crushed under his foot. He raised the blade above his head, throwing his head back with an insane laugh. Mitashi saw his blood red eyes and curled into a ball, hands covering her head, waiting for the down stroke of the sword.

A moment passed. Then another. It never came. She opened her eyes and looked around, using her nose to search for his scent and her ears to listen for any motion nearby. She didn't sense anything, she decided after a few strained seconds. She stood up and her shoulders slumped. Her relief was almost audible.

With no warning, there was a blade at her throat. Her father's voice murmured in her ear.

"Well, sweeting, you've been a naughty, naughty little girl. What should we do, hm?"

The white edged sword dug slightly into her throat and she felt her skin part and blood run down her neck. It's finally happened. He finally snapped. My father's insane, she thought, he's gone. She swallowed hard, panting, causing the blade to cut her throat open more. I'm going to die.

Realizing she had no other choice, she lunged out, receiving several wounds on the arms, and a huge nick in her ear. Somehow she knocked the blade away.

And she transformed.

Surrounded for a moment by a whirlwind of smoke, in her place stood a silver fox, at least nine feet tall. Mitashi opened her mouth and snarled in Lord Aoi's face. He held the sword horizontally in front of himself.

"So the little kit wants to play, does she?" asked her father, putting a finger to his lips. He giggled insanely and swung the blade at Mitashi's face. She jumped behind him and growled deep in her throat, snapping at his arm. Aoi leaped into the air and landed on her back, driving her into the ground. She yelped at the intense pain in her ribs. Mitashi kicked him off and bit into his shoulder before he had a chance to move. He didn't move a muscle as her teeth closed over and sunk into the bone of the top of his left arm, confusing her. She paused for a moment, and that was all it took.

"Bad kitty," he whispered, and he attacked.

With a mixture of yipping and growling, Mitashi flew backwards and landed under a tree, immediately untransforming. Fire seemed to course through her heart with every heartbeat. She put a hand to her chest, feeling the huge gash that poured out blood with every pulse.

She sat there, helpless, and watched Aoi turn and walk away, appearing to have forgotten about her. Her rage at being ignored overcame the pounding in her blood. So she wasn't important enough to hold his attention? Mitashi stood up and raced full speed at his back, fangs bared and claws outstretched.

Mitashi never reached him. She collided with a barrier she couldn't sense around him. She was forced back, flying through the air and slamming into the oak tree she had previously been under. Mitashi heard and felt something break, then landed on the ground and curled up. The wound over her heart was throbbing and she touched it instinctively, her hand coming away soaked in blood. Her vision grew blurry and she faintly heard Lord Aoi humming in the background, then slumped over. She recognized the song as one her mother had sung to her when she was little.

"M-mother…"

In the meadow lies a flower

Under the old oak tree

Where it waits to see us laughing

Just you and me

Ok. This is the first fanfiction I've ever let anyone read. If you liked it (or hated it for that matter) please read and review. I'm always looking for new ways to improve my writing. Suggestions? Comments? I'll be happy to take anything. If you liked it, the next part of the story should be up within the week. Oh, and I forgot the disclaimer: I don't own Rumiko Takahashi, but I wish she would at least sign over Sesshomaru:P

Mitashi Tsukimoto