THE CHALLENGE OF LADY KITSUNE
Chapter 10: "Howling At The Moon"
A neo-Sailor Moon fanfic
By Bill K.
Diana padded into the Princess's bedroom as softly as she could, her yellow eyes illuminated in the low light. She could see Usa was in her bed, with her friends circled around the teen in portable sleeping units - - sleeping bags in the twentieth century, though more improved over their older selves. The cat smiled as she noticed the discarded popcorn bags and drink containers. Teenage girls will be teenage girls, no matter what the calling.
To her surprise, Ves suddenly rolled out of her unit into a defensive crouch.
"Forgive me for disturbing you," Diana spoke up softly. Ves eased. "Although I'm at a loss to know just how you knew I was here."
"When you've been some of the places I've been," Ves said, rolling back on her heels, "you develop a sense for those things. Everything look clear?"
"Yes," Diana replied. "There has been no sighting of Lady Kitsune, that we're aware of. There is the possibility that she can enter the palace in disguise. That can't be discounted, if one assumes she has the same abilities that Aino-San possesses. At the moment, nothing in the palace seems amiss."
"Yeah," Ves mumbled. Diana could hear that the news didn't seem to please the girl.
"What's up?" mumbled Jun through the haze of post-sleep. The teen stirred in her unit.
"Nothing. Just Diana," Ves whispered. "Go back to sleep."
"OK. You too, huh," Jun said and snuggled back into her unit.
Diana could see Ves nod absently. But she also saw the girl remain crouched, unmoving, for longer than she should have. Ves was thinking about something, considering a course of action that Diana wasn't certain might be a good idea, knowing Ves. Finally, though, Ves slid back into her unit. Taking that as a sign that the crisis had passed, Diana leaped up onto Usa's bed and took her customary spot at her friend's feet.
Rei entered the conference room. Sitting assembled were the Royal Family, all of the Elder Senshi, all of the Younger Senshi, and the cats. She took her place at the head of the room, flanked by Endymion on a computer terminal. Before she could speak, though, Minako leaned in to the others.
"I've called you all here tonight because," Minako said facetiously, then paused dramatically, "ONE of you is the murderer." Serenity and Makoto giggled involuntarily. Several of the Asteroids just looked puzzled by the dated reference. Rei gave Minako a death glare, then regained her composure.
"I've called," Rei began, then stopped when she realized what she was about to say. Giving Minako another glare, she began again. "I've been reviewing the surveillance footage we caught of Lady Kitsune. I'm pretty certain I know what we're dealing with now." She nodded to Endymion and he brought up the footage on the screen behind Rei. "Look at Lady Kitsune in this footage. Focus on her lower half, particularly between her legs."
"It's kind of bulgy," Serenity commented.
"Lady Kitsune's a guy?" Minako asked.
"If I could slap you just once," Rei muttered to herself.
"She's not a guy, Aunt Minako," Usa said. "Believe me."
"Then what is it, Hino-Sensei?" Jun asked.
"It's a tail," Rei told them.
"A TAIL?" practically everybody responded. Palla-Palla just giggled at the idea.
"I believe this Lady Kitsune is a fox spirit," Rei began. "Fox spirits have the ability to mimic human form. However, they can't disguise their tails."
"Palla-Palla's premonition," Ves murmured, looking at Jun and Cere. They both nodded solemnly.
"So why is this fox spirit stealing my act?" Minako asked, incensed.
"She probably saw it as an easy form to mimic and achieve her goal," Rei explained, "which is to get close to Usa. She could have tried mimicking a real person, but that would have been a much more complex task and may have been beyond her skill level."
"But how did she even know about Lady Kitsune?" Endymion inquired. "All of the confrontations between her and us were limited to the inside of the palace."
"Fox spirits are infamous for seeking shelter inside of homes," Rei continued. "They usually seek out empty rooms or live in attics, away from the home owner. Don't worry, Endymion, you wouldn't have seen her and your security system wouldn't have detected her. But now that I've been alerted to her, I have detected a faint presence here and there in the upper levels of the palace. She probably observed one of the confrontations between Usa and Minako and copied Minako's Lady Kitsune identity for herself."
"Well, that's all fine," Makoto interjected. "What does she want with Usa?"
Rei sighed uncomfortably. "The greatest ambition a fox spirit has is to attain human form permanently. There are two ways for them to do this. One is to conduct a rite of worship under a full moon and absorb the essence of the moon. By doing this, they will gradually achieve permanent human form." Rei grimaced. "But while that method doesn't harm anyone, it can take several centuries to become fully human."
"And the other way?" Ami asked, fascinated.
Rei exhaled. "Female fox spirits have been known to assume the form of a beautiful woman and seduce a man into intimacy. Through that method, they absorb the man's energy and take it for their own. Once the fox spirit has seduced enough men, she attains human form."
"And the men?" Cere asked.
"Depending on how much energy the fox spirit steals, it can leave the victim with either a prolonged sickness, permanent disability - - or sometimes dead," Rei detailed. Serenity gasped. "I'm assuming that this spirit has decided to make Usa a target because of her huge energy potential and her connection to the moon, instead of any physical attraction. She probably figures that taking Sailor Moon's energy would allow her to attain humanity in one shot."
"Well that's terrible!" gasped Serenity.
"Don't get the wrong idea," Rei cautioned. "Fox spirits are usually benign, aside from an occasional mischievous streak. They can even be beneficial to a household they've taken a liking to. But the thought of attaining humanity is a powerful temptation for them," and Rei paused for emphasis, "and if you handle them the wrong way, they can be VERY vindictive."
"What would you suggest be our course of action?" Endymion questioned the priest.
"I can search the entire palace," Rei said. "Now that I'm attuned to the spirit's presence, I know what I'm looking for. At least one senshi should be along with me in case the spirit turns on me."
"But Usa and I were attacked on The Promenade," Hotaru piped up. "Will we have to scour the whole city?"
"The spirit's willingness to leave the palace was only because Usa was out," Rei explained. "She's stalking Usa, so if Usa stays in the palace, she'll be in the palace. And that's why at least one senshi has to be with Usa at all times."
"She can stay with me," Serenity offered.
"No," Rei said quickly. "We can't risk the fox spirit turning on you as a target if she can't get to Usa. It has to be one of the senshi. And you have to be as far away from her as possible, Serenity."
"All right," frowned Serenity.
"Everybody knows what to do," Endymion said, taking control of the meeting. "Hotaru, I'd like you to stay with Usa. The Asteroids, if not with Usa, need to be close by."
"I'll tag along with Rei," Makoto offered. "Ami's busy and Blondie would probably incite her to murder."
"She makes it too easy. Can I help it?" Minako shrugged while Rei ground her teeth.
"You should probably stay with Serenity," Rei told Minako. "Between you and Endymion, it should be enough protection. I really don't anticipate the fox spirit coming after her anyway. Come on, Makoto. Let's get started."
Ves paced the floor of their quarters. Palla-Palla played with her dolls, oblivious to everything, while Jun and Cere passed the time and tried to ignore Ves.
"Gods, will you SIT DOWN!" Cere finally fumed.
"I hate waiting like this!" barked Ves. "I hate waiting for Lady Kitsune to strike!"
"Well, we don't have much choice," Jun answered.
"The Hell we don't! I bet I could track her down!"
"Hino-Sensei is already doing that," Cere replied thinly.
"Well letting Lady Kitsune dictate when and where she strikes puts us at a disadvantage!" Ves argued. "We don't know where she'll come from or when! If we take the fight to her, we put her on the defensive! We keep her from having the chance to attack Usa, maybe even take her down and eliminate the threat!"
"I have to admit: She has a point," frowned Jun, glancing at Cere.
"Don't say that. You'll just encourage her," Cere scowled.
A movement from Ves caught the attention of the others. They saw she had her henshin stick out.
"Ves!" Cere began to exclaim.
"Vesta Star Power Make Up!" she cried and transformed into Sailor Vesta. Palla-Palla put down her dolls.
"What are you going to do?" Jun demanded.
"Look for Lady Kitsune," Vesta replied. "Fauna assimilation - - Red Fox!" Instantly the senshi transformed into a fox. "I figure one fox can sniff out another fox. You coming?"
"Palla-Palla will come!" the teen said, bounding up out of her corner. "Palla-Palla can help you look for Lady Foxy!"
"You're on, Stupid. Get transformed," Vesta-fox said. She turned to the others. "Jun?"
"I really think I should stay close, in case the Princess needs me," Jun concluded.
"Makes sense," the fox nodded. "Priss?"
"STOP CALLING ME 'PRISS'!" snapped Cere. "I'm staying with Jun. You'll probably end up getting in the way anyway."
"Suit yourself," Vesta-fox said. "Come on, Pallas. Let's hunt us down a fox spirit."
Pallas nodded and obediently followed the fox out the door. Cere looked at Jun.
"Think she'll find Lady Kitsune?" Cere asked.
"It's worth a shot," shrugged Jun. "And besides, now we don't have to watch her pace."
"You always find the bright side," smirked Cere.
Out in the corridor, Pallas dutifully trailed behind Vesta. As they passed a pair of palace maintenance workers, their presence made the workers turn and look curiously. Suddenly Pallas looked over her shoulder at them.
"It's not a real foxy, it's just Vesta," she told them and continued following the fox as she sniffed along the floor. The two workers looked at each other. When they couldn't find an answers in the other's gaze, they both continued on their way.
"Stop reading the maintenance workers' thoughts and concentrate on Lady Kitsune," Vesta said, her nose twitching between the floor and the side wall. Her shoulders were hunched and her long thick red and black tail grazed the floor behind her.
"Yes, Vesta," Pallas nodded. She closed her eyes, but quickly realized that she couldn't do that and see where she was walking. Opening her eyes again, Pallas instead tried to concentrate on sensing Lady Kitsune without closing her eyes. Her face twisted up.
"Anything?" Vesta asked after a while.
"No, Vesta," Pallas reported. "Pallas can't always hear someone's thoughts when she tries to hear them - - especially a stranger."
"All right. Keep trying," Vesta replied.
"Can you smell her, Vesta?"
"I get a fox scent, but it's not recent," Vesta answered. "She's been here, but I don't know where she is now."
The caravan continued on.
"Vesta?" Pallas inquired.
"Yeah?" Vesta replied, her nose and her concentration on the floors and the walls.
"Do you miss him?"
"Miss who?" Vesta asked absently.
"The boy you like," Pallas explained. "The one from over the sea?"
"Over the sea?" Vesta stopped, confused by the question. "You mean Carlton?"
"Yes," Pallas nodded. "Do you miss Mister Sea-Carlton?"
Vesta went back to her tracking. "He was fun."
Pallas stared at her.
"Yeah, I wouldn't mind seeing more of him," Vesta elaborated. "He was - - nice." She nosed around an entrance. "But he's in North America. No sense thinking about it. No sense wanting what you can't have."
Suddenly Pallas reached down and stroked along Vesta's fox coat.
"Pallas is sorry," she murmured sympathetically. Vesta looked away.
"Stop peeking in my head," Vesta grumbled.
"Maybe Mister Sea-Carlton will come back some day," Pallas offered optimistically.
"Yeah," Vesta grunted. Then she brightened. "Or maybe I can visit him." A sly grin formed on the fox's mouth.
On another level of the palace, Rei and Makoto were walking slowly down a corridor. Garbed in her priest's robes, Rei cautiously padded down the hall, her left arm bent up and her left hand before her face, the first two fingers extended. Her right arm was folded across her middle to support her left arm.
"Anything?" Makoto asked.
"Nothing yet," Rei responded. "I can sense her lingering presence, but nothing strong. She probably knows we're searching for her. It could drive her into hiding."
"That's good. At least she's not attacking Usa."
"Or it could drive her to attack faster," Rei added.
"That's not so good." Makoto and Rei walked a few paces further. "So, have you ever met one of these fox spirits?"
"Once," Rei said, trying to divide her concentration. "It was a long time ago. Back when I was going to college, there was one in the attic of the rooming house I was living in." Rei grinned nostalgically. "The poor thing was terrified when we finally tracked it down. There it was, face to face with half a dozen divinity students who thought they knew everything and were hot to prove that they could exorcise a fox spirit. Finally the rooming house manager, who was this little sixty year old spitfire, stopped us. She knew the fox spirit lived there and watched over the place, keeping it safe from lowlifes. And after a while, we all got to be friends with the spirit." Rei glanced at Makoto. "Although there was never any left over pizza or sushi in the morning. The fox spirit saw to that."
"Guy or girl?" Makoto asked.
"Guy. He was kind of cute, too," Rei said, then added, "In the stuffed animal kind of way, not the 'date material' way."
"Gotcha," Makoto nodded. Rei stopped suddenly. "Something?" Makoto asked, alerted.
"She's in the palace," Rei said softly, staring out into space. Then she burst into a run. "She's on the move!"
"Jupiter Millennium Power Make Up!" Makoto shouted, transforming on the run as she kept on Rei's heels.
Back with Vesta and Pallas, they had made it to a point approaching the Royal Chambers. Vesta was still sniffing persistently while Pallas diligently concentrated, trying to catch a sense of their quarry.
"This isn't working," Vesta mused. "Maybe I should change into a bloodhound - - or a fox hound. Yeah, that would be the trick."
"Vesta," Pallas said suddenly. Vesta turned and saw Pallas seemed uneasy.
"You sense something?"
"Yes," Pallas responded. "But Pallas isn't sure what it is. She heard a thought - - but she's not sure if it's a people."
"That's probably her!" Vesta exclaimed. "You know what direction it came from?"
Pallas nodded and pointed to her left, behind her.
"That's near the Royal Chambers!" Vesta yipped, bounding past Pallas down the corridor. "It's got to be her, Pallas! She's making her move! Come on!"
"Should Pallas call Juno and Ceres?" Pallas asked as she ran to keep up with the fox bounding down the corridor.
"Not yet! Not until we're sure it's her!" Vesta responded.
She stopped suddenly and sniffed all around. Pallas came to a stop behind her and looked on curiously.
"I'm getting something," Vesta said. "She's been here - - recently. Come on!"
Again the pair raced down the corridor. As they approached a junction leading to the Royal Chambers, Vesta suddenly caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. There was a sudden burst of light.
Continued in Chapter 11