We all took our seats in the dining hall as the Fox Lord began his telling.
"My older brother, Moriagaruhi, was set to inherit the South from our father. He had been trained since birth to become a lord, but just prior to his ceremony he disappeared. The responsibility fell to me. Many years later I heard of a fox with great magic in the West."
"Papa!" Shippou chimed in from his position on my lap.
"That's right nephew. It was your father. He left to mate your mother. He had found love and chased after it. I met your beautiful mother and the bundle in her arms." He smiled down at my son. "She told me they had named you Shippou after our great and terrible father."
"Why were you surprised to see Shippou?" I asked.
"Word reached me months after the death of my brother and his mate. I was told his son was not to be found. The countryside was searched for any sign of life. I assumed the worst."
I chewed on my lip, thinking about how my interference had kept Shippou from his family.
"My lady, if you are believing that keeping Shippou and raising him as your own was a mistake...do not. You could not have known of his family...Shippou had no knowledge of his family or his heritage. Father was terribly upset his eldest son would not continue the legacy and so Moriagaruhi kept his past life a secret. You are as mush family as I."
I shook my head in understanding and smiled to the Fox Lord. Shippou may not have been with his biological family, but we loved him just the same.
The rest of the evening went on with Asanohono regaling us with stories of him and his brother as young princes in the South. I could tell from the change in Shippou's demeanor he was put at ease hearing of his father. We sat for several hours listening to the memories of his childhood and being entertained by his magic.
On occasion I would see the Lord's eye drift to observe another at the table, sometimes interrupting his magic and causing him to falter. I tried, unsuccessfully, to see who had caught the eye of the young Lord. There were several young Dog Demonesses who had wondered in to see what the awe and laughter was all about. It wasn't until our evening was interrupted did I finally catch on.
Moon light beamed through the uppermost window in the shiro, the light bouncing off the wall catching the attention of many. But not the Lord, not me, and not...Kohaku! I looked from the Lord, to the young man, and back again. Really? I narrowed my eyes as they darted back and forth, I could work with this. My thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a familiar sound.
...a howling chorus of wolves.