Of Blood and Trust
Bakudeku, Kitsune/Okami Yokai AU flash fic
A loud but muffled growl echoes through the dense forest sending birds a flight. Izuku sits up from the edge of the pond with concern, who or what would be in this part of the woods? Shouting, several humans, and then a deep scream so guttural every hair on his body stands to attention. He knew that sound, one of pain and terror all rolled into one; an injured creature. Shifting into his partial form, the Kitsune yokai races towards the sounds. His fox ears providing a better advantage for tracking. The scent of blood, dark and metallic assaulting his senses the closer he gets. If hunters were here, they would pay for coming into his sanctuary.
When he arrives, something was amiss. Gone were the voices, the air grown eerie, too quiet except for the insects buzzing on a humid day. Izuku moves cautiously through the trees, scanning for the source of the scream. The smell of blood increases as he rounds an embankment where he finds two humans dead, and shotguns laying at their sides. Possible hunters, but nothing he could do to help them.
He moves on, following a third trail, this time the scent is different, strange. Inhuman. The crack of a twig and a curse uttered from someone or something. His ear flicks in the direction. It was close. "Who's there!" Izuku demands! But not a whisper or reply. Twenty-feet further resting against a tree, he finds the source and it wasn't what he'd expected.
"An Okami?!" From what Izuku could see, it has a deep laceration to its side with fresh blood oozing. This wolf yokai was gravely injured and still in its partial human form. "I won't hurt you," he holds out his hands in a gesture of peace. This was the first time Izuku had ever seen another yokai since he'd received his powers from Toshi, but he knew what it was. Its wild red eyes narrowed in, watching every step the Kitsune took. "That injury is bad, I can help you."
"Fuck… Off," it growls at Izuku.
But it was perfectly clear to the young Kitsune, this yokai was in no position to do anything. He studies the creature further, noting how its human features were quite good-looking for a male. It's yellow hair on the wilder side with a shapely body of sporty prowess. Izuku wasn't sure why the yokai would be in this form when their true natures gave them more abilities. He could only assume it had tried to avert the hunter's attention since wolves were still hunted for its fur.
"I'm Izuku," the Kitsune yokai tries again in calm undertones. "It's not safe here, come back with me to my nearby shrine and I'll help you."
"Screw you!"
The wolf's words bite back, but Izuku could see it starting to go unconscious. Its eyes rolling as if fighting for control. With the amount of blood loss seeping from the wound, he wasn't surprised.
"I ain't… I'm not…"
And soon enough as the wolf's energy dwindled so did its ability to keep its partial human form. Izuku watched in amazement as it slowly shifted back into its true nature as a wolf. It was almost like looking at a mirror to see another canine yokai in transformation.
"Just leave me…" its words dying away into unconsciousness.
"Sorry," Izuku whispers, making his way to the creature. He kneels ready to pick it up. "I won't let a fellow yokai die for nothing…"