The Mysterious Door

As the week dragged on, Saky grew more curious about the door. What were the knobs? Why did it only open to her? And why did she feel a connection to it? She ignored these questions long enough to do her homework, then when she went home she decided to end her questions once and for all!

She turned one knob three clicks to the right, and the dial read (Year: 3 A.M.)

"What does A.M. stand for?" she wondered aloud.

She turned another knob at the top one click to the left. They now read (World: Demon, Year: 3 B.T.)

"What the…why did the year switch?!"

"What's going on Saky?" asked Genkai.

"The knobs show different settings. First it read 3 A.M., now it says 3 B.T.," Saky said confused.

"Why don't you try the button on the bottom that expands the knobs?"

"I didn't see a button."

Genkai pressed said button; the knobs now read… (World: Demon, Year 3 Before Tournament).

"What tournament is it referring to?"

"Most likely the Dark Tournament. I was in it once…"

"Really? What was it like?"

(They spent the rest of the day reminiscing about the Tournament.)

"So Saky, what did you find out about the door?" asked Shuichi.

"I found out it leads to places outside the temple. That's all I know."

"I wonder if I could come to your house sometime."

"I'll ask Oka-san. But I must warn you, it's pretty far away!"

"How far?"

"About a mile or two; I didn't count. I just run to the school gates after a warm-up and breakfast."

"You run two miles?!" said Shuichi, his jaw dropped.

"It's no biggie. I used to run 10 back in my village."

"Why? What's the point of doing all that running?"

"Can you keep a personal secret?"

"Sure…why?"

"When the teacher said I was homeschooled, she wasn't kidding. In my village it's normal to run at least 10 miles or more. As a matter of fact, it's practically required at the Academy."

"Where did you live before?!"

"A Hidden Shinobi village…"

"You're a ninja?"

"Yup, I'm a Hidden Leaf ninja, Chuunin level. If I felt like it, I could become a Jounin."

"What's the difference between Chuunin and Jounin?"

"Jounin can buy better scrolls and weapons. Not to mention the missions are harder."

"I'll ask my Oka-san if I can spend the night at your temple. Maybe she'll say yes!"

One week later…

"So this is your Oka-san's temple. I can't believe you live in such a huge place!" said Shuichi.

"Yeah…kinda like living in a hotel sometimes with only one exception…HYA!" said Saky as she blocked Genkai's attack.

"Wha…!" said Shuichi in surprise.

"Did you forget your homework girl?!" said Genkai in a playful mood. (Definition: she was in the mood to send Saky to the hospital.)

"I never forget Oka-san!" laughed Saky.

"Um…Saky?" said Shuichi, freaked out.

"Oh, sorry about that Shuichi-kun. This is how Oka-san welcomes me back home! I may not be on ninja missions anymore, but I still train."

"What for?" asked Shuichi.

"Because on the off chance I go back, I'll be rusty if I don't train."

"Oh…can I help?"

"Do you know any fighting moves?"

"Well no…but I have this really odd feeling when I'm around plants though."

"Maybe it's because you are Yoko Kurama, the infamous Fox Thief," said Genkai calmly.

"Wha…!" said Shuichi in complete shock.

"The only reason my Kekkai didn't work on you is because Saky invited you in and the fact that you're in a human body."

"What would have happened otherwise?"

"You wouldn't have been able to enter. Also, her plant would have eaten you alive."

"What plant?"

"My favorite vine of all…the Head Hunting Vine."

By the end of the night it seemed everything would end as usual. Genkai would train Saky so much she fell asleep from exhaustion, and Shuichi would have spent the strangest sleepover he'd ever have. Too bad it didn't turn out that way. He found…the door.

"What the…what's this door? Is it the one Saky told me about?"

He turned three knobs…and here's what they read… (World: Fox Lair, Year: After Reincarnation, Day: Wednesday)

As he began to enter the door, Saky stopped him.

"Wait for me Shuichi!" she said.

"Saky…"

As they entered the door, Shuichi appeared to change…he was taller, older, and much more violent. Plants seemed to circle around him. Suddenly, he picked Saky up. At her questioning look he nodded to the plant on his left. Its mouth opened wide to eat her.

"Don't even think about it," said Saky in a warning tone.

"I wasn't. What makes you think I'm stupid enough to feed Genkai's daughter to a plant?"

"So why did you pick me up then?"

"To keep the Demon Tree off you. Hold on, I'll take you straight to my den…"

"What are you up to…" said Saky suspicious.

"Stay right here. I'll fetch something…" said Yoko Kurama.

'Why do I have a bad feeling about this…' thought Saky.

As he returned, he had a strange staff in his hands. It had a sun on its top. As soon as he stepped down…out of nowhere foxes appear and surround Saky.

"Lord Yoko! We thought you were dead!"

"I was reborn into a human. I came here by accident…"

"While the human bit was true, fox-boy, it wasn't an accident that brought you here. You turned the dials deliberately!"

"True…my subconscious did that."

"Whatever. So was that what your subconscious wanted you to pick up?"

"Let's leave Saky-chan! You can have the staff thingy!" said Shuichi.

"Cool. Let's head back Shuichi-kun! …Eh? Aw! How kuwaii!" said Saky as she spotted a mini-nine-tailed fox.

"Mew…" said the mini-fox.

"Awww…Hey Shuichi, do you think anyone will mind if I take this little fox?"

"Actually, I think there's more than one…"

Sure enough, eight more foxes appeared, seven of them with more than one tail. She immediately scooped up all nine and grinned.

"I'm pretty sure Genkai won't enjoy having nine demon foxes in her temple…"

"Do they know how to do laundry?"

"Any fox who lives under Yoko Kurama knows how to do laundry and the dishes. They also aren't afraid of the vacuum cleaner!" laughed Shuichi.

"Then Oka-san won't care. I don't like doing laundry, and she always annoys me about it."

"So you want the fox kits to do the laundry?"

"If they do it, then problem solved. I don't mind the dishes, I just don't like laundry."

"In that case, let's leave."

"SAKY! Where did all these blasted foxes come from?!" said Genkai peeved. (They were playing with her.)

"Relax Oka-san! They do laundry!"

"You're taking care of them Saky, not me!" growled Genkai.

"Huh…you weren't joking when you said she'd let them stay if they did laundry."

"I know my Oka-san."

THE NEXT DAY…

"Hey Shuichi! Check it out! The staff you handed me back at the den turns into a sword!"

"All right class, the auditioning for this year's talent show is tomorrow. Anyone interested may see me after class."

"Shuichi, what's a talent show?"

"It's where people are judged based on what their talent is."

"Maybe I should try?"

"I'll join you…"

"Yay!"