Sorry it took a while guys. *Sighs* the troubles of a writer without a personal laptop . . . and there is also the fact that I am doing this without permission (heh).

Not beta-ed so please tell me if I missed anything

Enjoy~

They say that when you are about to die your life flashes before your eyes, but for Kiku, he's lived too long a life to be able to re-live it in the few minutes he had left. No, all he felt was a wet warmth on his side where he had been struck, and at the same time an unending cold and darkness everywhere else.

Lying underneath his tree, all he could do now was to wait until he bled out in the snow and finally be able to be with his family on the other side of the uncrossed river.

As he closed his eyes, ready to welcome Death, he heard a short shout of exclamation. It sounded not too far off, but Kiku was already too drained and too tired to open his eyes. He heard the crunching of the snow coming closer to where he lay; he then felt a small warmth on the top of his head.

A few whispered words were said and suddenly the warmth between his pointed ears spread across his entire body. Kiku felt his strength return and the gaping wound on his side slowly closing. The warmth stopped once it reached the tip of his tail and he heard a small sigh of relief.

Blinking, Kiku opened his eyes. Crouching in front of him was a small human boy; he looked no older than 5 years of age. Confused, Kiku looked around to try and find any sign of another person that could have healed him, but no, the only people in the area were the child and him.

Healing magic was an extremely advanced form of magic that takes years to master, so it was understandable that Kiku was confused as to what happened.

His confusion must have shown on his face, for the boy in front of him started to blush and stutter out an explanation. "W-well, I couldn't've left you all alone there in the snow! I-it wouldn't be gentlemanly of me."

The boy looked down, not meeting his eyes, "I-I know you don't believe me, b-but it's true. I c-couldn't just leave you there to die." The small human stood up and brushed the snow off his trousers. "W-well," looking very uncomfortable, his eyes darted around looking everywhere else but Kiku, "I t-think I should t-take my leave then."

The boy started to turn away. Not wanting to leave his savior without settling his debt, Kiku quickly went up and blocked the boy's way.

Startled at the fox's (for indeed, that was what Kiku looked like), the child took a step back. Kiku rubbed the top of his head to the boy's side, nudging the boys' hand to rub his head, silently requesting him not to be scared.

After a moment of hesitation the boy started to stroke the patch of fur in between Kiku's ears, feeling it under his fingertips. The child let out a soft giggle, finally looking his age, as he pet the fox more. Kiku let out a soft purr, letting the boy know that he enjoyed it as well.

After a while, the boy stopped and sat down in the snow, leaning on Kiku's tree. The fox walked over to the child and put his head on his lap, wordlessly telling him to continue his petting. With a small but bright smile, the boy obliged. "I guess this means you want me to stay huh?" he muttered

Kiku looked up at him and nodded. The boy's smile increase tenfold; then it disappeared, replaced, instead, by a look of longing. The boy looked as though he wasn't seeing what was in front of him, his bright green eyes dulling. "I guess that makes one . . ."

Tears started to flow from the boy's eyes, dropping into Kiku's fur. The fox growled lightly and sat up, licking and nudging the boy's face, trying to ask him the reason for his tears. The boy wrapped his arms around Kiku, mumbling into his, now wet, fur.

Kiku stilled as he listened the small child as he poured his heart out. Giving him silent support as the boy told him about his brothers, how they would pick on him and tease him because he was the youngest, how others would avoid him because of his abnormally strong magic, how all he wanted was for someone to stay with him for even just a moment.

The forest was silent as the boy finished his tale, as if the spirits of the land were mourning for the child and his misfortunes. After a few minutes the boy let Kiku go and wiped his hand with his sleeve. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, the boy turned back to Kiku and looked into his eyes. "Thank you."

The child's voice was so sincere, and Kiku couldn't help but wonder why he was thanking him. It was Kiku that should be thanking the boy, not the other way around.

Tilting his head to the side, Kiku tried to decipher what the boy meant. As if understanding his dilemma, the boy spoke. "Well, you haven't left yet . . . you listened to my useless ramblings and let me cry. This is the first–" he trailed off, eyes once again dulling.

That moment, Kiku decided that this boy completely deserved what he was about to do.

"What is your name child?" the fox asked, not needing to open his mouth; instead, speaking directly into his mind.

"M-my name is Arthur Kirkland." The boy, now named Arthur, blinked at the Kiku, trying to make sense of the new situation.

"For saving my life, I am in your debt. Speak, what is it that you wish for the most in this world? My power is at your disposal."

Looking away from him, Arthur mumbled his wish. "I wish that someone will want to be my friend, so that I won't have to be so alone anymore."

The wish both surprised Kiku, and not.

After all the boy has confessed about his life, it is no wonder that the boy would wish for a companion; but the fact that it was what Arthur wanted more than anything in the world . . . it made Kiku feel for the child in front of him. To go through so much heartache that a child his age shouldn't know yet.

It reminded Kiku of what he felt when his clan died, leaving him all alone; wishing for a companion to share his misery with.

Kiku had no regrets for granting the boy's wish, nor will he regret how he will grant it; but as per his clan's tradition, he asked the boy again.

"Is that truly what you want? You can wish for absolutely anything and I will grant it."

Arthur looked him in the eye, the expression on his face making him seem older than he was. "Sir, that is all I have ever wanted."

"Then it shall be yours."

In less than a second, instead of a fox there was a boy. He was barely three years older than Arthur, about two heads taller and wearing a formal kimono-like clothing that the nobles in the East wear. He stood straight, black hair framing his pale face until just below his ears.

The older boy folded his arms into the sleeves of his robes and gave him a full 90 degree bow.

In the same voice as the fox, he spoke. "I am Kiku of the Honda tribe. I swear that I shall stay by your side until the day I die. I will never leave your side unless you wish me to. I promise that you will never have to feel alone ever again."

Tears welled up in Arthur's eyes, making Kiku worried that he did something wrong. The kitsune took a step towards the younger boy, but was almost toppled over by a strong force that pushed itself onto his stomach.

Kiku looked down and saw Arthur hugging him, tears staining his Kimono. Rubbing circles into the human's back, Kiku waited until the boy regained his composure.

After a few more minutes Arthur pulled back, mumbling a soft but sincere "thank you", and gave him a small kiss on the cheek (like a child would give their parents) and quietly fell asleep.

After all of the other servants went back to their jobs, Kiku confronted Francis.

"You have ten seconds to tell me what really happened or you will regret ever putting a finger on the young master."

Shocked, Francis stuttered out "Wh-what? I don't – "

"Do not play dumb with me." His eyes flashed and Kiku's pupils shrunk into slits. "The magic we all felt came from you. Now tell me what happened or I will just have to assume the worst and impose judgment for what you did to our precious master."

Francis sighed and explained everything that happened in the forest. Kiku did not interrupt, listening to Francis' tale with an impassive face.

After Francis finished there was silence. The air was thick with tension as Kiku looked at the magic-user, trying to see if there was even a single lie in what he just said.

Kiku sighed, seeing that the man was telling the truth he spoke. "I believe you, but do not misunderstand me. I do not trust you; if I even see you do anything remotely similar to what just happened today I will make you wish for death. The young master seems to have forgiven you and still trusts you, but I do not. Do not make the mistake of breaking that trust ever again. Do I make myself clear?"

Francis swallowed, throat dry from the blatant threat. "Oui, I do."

With a hair-raising smile on his face, the kitsune grasped his shoulder (a little harder than it should be) and left the room.

Edited: 12/30/16: Just saw a few errors in the grammar and stuff, nothing major