Chapter 96
By the end of the night, the only real success I had with the charms was a single paper familiar. At the moment, I simply didn't have enough Ki available to do anything more. It didn't help that I wasn't used to the almost alien style of calligraphy, or that I never used a brush to write. So, I was feeling a little pride when I finally got the little paper cut out to stand up, and do a little dance for me.
"I wonder..." I said slowly as I focused on making the little cut out walk in a circle without falling, "If I could empower something bigger..."
"I'll admit I myself am not as adept as I could be. But yes. A popular way to use this charm was for training dummies. Truly adept practitioners could even make them stand up to an invasion." Yasaka nodded, clapping quietly as I managed to make my little paper familiar roll up into a tube, then stand up again like a gymnast.
"And here I thought I was your favourite golem."
"You're no golem." I said, frowning as my paper person fell over, "You are the definition of living steel. Now, if I ever made another body like yours..."
"You are getting distracted." Yasaka admonished.
"Pardon, Yasaka-sama." I got my head out of the anvil and continued focusing.
"Haha, Kodori got in trouble!" Delly teased.
I used the only trick I'd been able to learn so far with Senjitsu, making a simple pair of solo hand gestures and pointing at Delly, creating a feeble puff of air, maybe enough to blow out a candle. She held her hand over the front of her dress as the breeze ruffled her clothes. "One day I'm going to learn how to add water to that..."
"You would use the ancient art of Senjitsu to mimic a spray bottle?" Yasaka sighed, "Well, it is practise at the very least."
"I am not a cat!" Delly pouted, her tiny stomach rumbling, "I am hungry though..."
After dinner, I finally found out what sort of bath house they had. I had (of course) hoped for a hot spring, but instead was pleasantly surprised they had a reasonably large onsen styled bath house. It was of course a communal style place, since it would be too inefficient otherwise. But it was, like the rest of the shrine and its buildings, perfectly clean, made of nice fragrant dark wood, and almost the exact temperature I liked.
Being the equivalent of 'royalty' the four of us (not Shinkage) had the place to ourselves, once the masked staff had given their word it was ready for us.
"You know." I started, setting down my (traditional) water bucket that had my soaps and such inside it, "I don't often see you bathing."
Delly (who was riding in the bucket) looked up at me, "Well, I mean, I'm basically a living collection of pure magic. When I hide in your mana, I don't bring anything physical with me." She did a little spin in place, her silver fox tail swishing around with her, "I also don't generally spend enough time outside your body to get dirty enough for a bath now a days."
"Good to know my mana isn't getting dusty." I nodded.
Yasaka, sat down next to me in an adjacent shower stall. I had to say, even without the ornate robe/kimono/priestess outfit she generally wore, she was just as elegant nude. And while she carried her tremendous (ahem) assets with the same grace, I was glad I hadn't gotten that big. She of course caught me looking, giving me a wink, but not commenting, "I haven't had any real contact with the... Fairy?" Delly nodded, "Before today. You seem similar but more... elemental than the youkai."
Delly buzzed over to my knee, standing on it while I carefully sprinkled water over her. She had broken off a tiny lump of the bar of soap I'd brought, and was scrubbing it over herself, "Well, most of us have our origins in nature. Wood Dryad, Water Nymphs, that kind of thing. Very few of the fey have origins in 'mortal spirits', like the youkai. I mean, a few exceptions, but yeah." I helped her get behind her ears, and scrub that little spot between her four dragonfly wings, "Oh... that's the spot there..." Her tail swished happily.
"Hm, yes, most youkai have their origins in objects or natural occurrences. But also animals." She sniffed at the soap I'd handed her, "You made this?"
"Ha-chan wants me to take better care of my tails, so, I made soap for fur." My two golden tails flopped over my lap, and I started to rub soap into them, "Yes, yes, be patient."
"It feels so nice!" Kunou said from the stall just past Yasaka, "It doesn't have a scent though?"
"Clean is more important than smelling like a field of flowers." I answered.
"Says you." Delly laughed.
"Have you ever tried to hunt something in a cave while smelling like a tree or something?" I returned, "It just attracts attention."
"I suppose that dungeon you speak of would be a terrible place to have a nice scent... But..." Yasaka scrubbed the soap through each of her tails in turn.
"I can make more easily enough, and even give you the recipe. Adding scent is easy too, but optional." I nodded, "Maybe I'll teach Kunou to make it too."
Yasaka and Kunou both gave me a sparkling look, a perfect younger/older picture, "We'd love that." They said in unison.
After a very relaxing bath, I had assumed we were just going to go our separate ways and go to bed. But instead, we were intercepted by a trio of masked kitsune and led to another room. When I saw the three massage tables, I understood what was going on.
Kunou opted to skip the 'after care' and chase after Delly. Having nothing to do, the third single tailed kitsune excused herself to return to other duties. Me, not having much else to do, shrugged, took off my borrowed house robe, and lay down next to Yasaka.
Now, to be clear. I didn't want to complain. I was on vacation, and was being given resort level treatment, even without any electricity in the building. The food was amazing, the air (aside from a tiny buzzing in my ears) felt good on my skin, the simple bed was really comfortable, and the company was great (even if I couldn't take a picture without some random youkai photo bombing it).
But this young lady seemed to have no idea how to give a good back rub. I mean... She wasn't bad at it. But she didn't apply enough pressure, or get the right places, or know how to treat much more than my lower back. Yasaka seemed to be loving her treatment, though with her Goddess tier bust, it wasn't surprising that the masseuse specialized in lower back treatment.
Well, that wouldn't do. Even if I was on vacation.
(One minute after giving my masseuse the 'hold my potion' look)
"I hope you two take notes." I said firmly, putting my robe back on and hovering over a puzzled looking Yasaka, "If you'll pardon my hands Yasaka-sama, I'm going to re-educate your staff."
"I don't mind, but these two, as well as two others, have gone to school for this." She replied, her closest eye and ear following my movement as I stood by her feet.
I could tell that the two masked ladies were doing their best not to look offended, but I wasn't going to suffer through a sub-par back rub on my vacation. "And I am sure they have learned all they could at a school that likely only teaches one way to do things. There is a double meaning to 'studying abroad'. To widen your education from multiple ways of teaching, not just go to a school overseas."
"I await your care then, Kodori-san." Yasaka smiled, looking forward again and relaxing.
So with one last look to the two masked kitsune, I put my hands on Yasaka's left ankle.
(Five minutes later)
"While the back certainly the focus of nearly all movement, any stiffness of the legs will carry up the body and disrupt posture, in turn effecting the back." I explained, my hands firmly teasing the muscles on the back of Yasaka's thigh, just under the towel covering her lovely rear. You would think that having nine tails (they were still out, drying from the bath prior) would be a problem, but after I'd gotten started, they'd all flopped to the side and out of the way. "Communication is important, as well as watching for reactions from the person under your care." To make my point, I motioned my chin towards Yasaka's head, where her ears were twitching happily. "Yasaka-sama? How do you feel?"
She nodded slowly and made what most would consider a 'happy sigh'.
"Let's continue."
(Five minutes after that)
"For those of us with tails, and depending on how active they are, you may need to spend more time here." Once again working my thumbs, this time just above the towel on her (very soft looking) rear, I pressed into either side of the 'tail bone'.
When I'd started getting more alone time with Haruhime, and after she had grown her second tail, this was one of the weirdest things about Renard/Kitsune anatomy. From a pure biological perspective, we didn't have more than one tail. It was one tail that was 'forked'. Like a hand and fingers or maybe a hydra's many heads. All our tails sprouted off one tail bone, and they all had their own skeleton. The weird magical thing that happened when one was cut off broke the usual science behind it, but anyhow.
Yasaka's collection of tails was still cooperating with me, slowly moving out of the way while I worked my thumbs on either side of the tail 'root', just over the cleft of her rear. My two watchers had produced a pen and paper, and were writing things down now. "Once your charge starts to relax, it's best to move on before you overstimulate them."
Yasaka pouted slightly as my hands moved up her back a little, my thumbs pressing to either side of her spine.
(Three minutes after that)
"Once you find the right amount of pressure to apply, and where to apply it, you'll start to relax them properly. For those carrying a little extra, it will be not just the lower back, but also up to, and including, under the shoulder blades."
I had to talk just a little louder than a few minutes ago, since Yasaka was starting to breath a little heavier, her toes wiggling every so often, her tails twitching occasionally. "Before you get past this point, their body should have the strength of someone who's sleeping, while they are still awake enough to enjoy it." I wasn't sure if the others had noticed, but poor Yasaka was biting her lip to keep quiet as well.
They continued to scribble notes down, though one of them paused to shut the door to the little room.
(Another five minutes...)
"Kodori-samaaaaaa." Yasaka moaned in the most unladylike manner.
One of the two masked Kitsune had her pen snap in her hand.
I paused my work, my thumbs on the back of her neck, just past where her hair started, while my fingertips teased the skin around her slender throat and shoulders, "Yasaka-sama?"
There was a long pause as managed to turn her head just enough to see me with one barely open eye, "Does your knowledge extend to the front as well?"
The other one's pen snapped.
"Can you roll over?" I asked with a smile.
Another long pause, and I could see the smooth muscles of her back try and contract, to try and encourage motion, but she couldn't move. "No..."
"Then I will end my lesson here." I plucked her house robe off the hook it was hanging from, and draped it over her back. "Now that I've done the hard part, I'm sure her tails would love to be brushed." I sat down on the table I'd started on, "Mine too."
While I didn't get my back rub, my tails were very pleased at the treatment they'd gotten. So much so that they were all resting in my lap and doing that sleepy tail tip motion thing that they did. The rest of me was sitting up on the roof of the shrine, looking up at the moon while sipping at a small bottle of that cherry sake Azazel had apparently gotten hooked on.
Delly had apparently played with Kunou until the pair of them had to be carried to bed. Yasaka couldn't look me in the eye after the two masked kitsune had finished brushing our tails, and Shinkage was far too heavy for the roof, so I was up here alone with my thoughts.
I took out my wife's Tarot, the moonlight playing over the silvered surface, lighting up the features I'd etched into the card. Shifting myself a little so the moonlight was behind me, I let my eyes focus on the background, "Ha-chan?"
It took a moment, but slowly the picture came to life, a slightly tired looking but brilliant as ever smile from Haruhime lighting up the tunnel between us. "Ko-san..." Her smile was interrupted by a delicate yawn, "I was about to have a nap. Hestia-sama didn't say you were going to call..."
"No, this is for you alone." I smiled, "See?" I brushed my free hand over my tails, my two golden ones curling around my wrist and lifting themselves away from the others, "I've got another one."
For a moment she squinted at me, and I saw her head bobbing slightly as she counted, "You have eight now!" Her eyes went wide, "You've been growing so quickly... but without Hestia-sama?"
"Remember when I made that comment, wondering how my tail would look on you?"
My former black tail and its partner swished into the picture from behind her, resting over her lap and shoulder, "Yes. I was surprised you didn't know, but thankful it worked when..."
"My love... We were very lucky. Not just because of the love and trust we have. But because it's true. It's no legend."
Her face went still, her tails froze in mid swish.
"I... suspect that it only worked because of what I am. The gift of your tail to revive me, one of my tails returning to you..." I took a shallow breath, "It might not have worked otherwise."
"You're..."
"A little while after I arrived here, something happened. Through my own ignorance, and some small bit of luck, I became connected to the land here."
"Akeno-san?" She was starting to put things together, I could see it on her face. I just had to make sure to keep explaining while I had time, and to avoid misunderstanding.
"Yes, she's a Miko. A real one, with power and skill. It was her shrine. But it had no spirit within it, so, I became attached to it." I shook my head slightly, "It won't be a problem, it's not binding or restricting. I can... move out any time."
She nodded, the frown forming on her lips reversing.
"But that was then I grew my seventh tail." I smiled with her, "Just recently... Well, you know how I got, when I got angry."
"Ko-san is always protective of us all. Yet because of that... hypnosis? You're always gentle at home."
"I... connected to it." The card was heating up a little, "Listen, my love. I will always be yours, and I will always be Hestia's. No matter what."
She seemed puzzled by my sudden switch in tone, then blinked in realization as I held out my free hand and summoned my sad little purple fire, "You... You really are!"
"I am." I nodded, "I thought I wasn't at first. But then there was too much evidence otherwise. I am a Kitsune."
"But then... What about..."
"We can think of that, when I come home." I smiled, "That's the only thing that matters. But I couldn't just... not tell you."
She smiled, but I could see an edge of pain around her eyes. My Tarot was getting scalding hot now.
"If all goes well, I will be able to send part of the dungeon home. Remind Ganesha of what he needs to do. And my love, give them all my love for me?"
"Yes Ko-san." She smiled, "A thousand years."
"A thousand years." I repeated, the two of us covering the face of our cards at the same time.
I waved the card a couple of times to cool it down, before putting it into its leather sleeve. Then, with a light 'tap' of wood on clay, I heard, "So that's how you do it."
I nearly jumped to my feet, but once I heard the voice I relaxed again, "Sun Wukong." I turned to face him, my little fox fire vanishing, "Eavesdropping at your age? For shame."
"I was going to ask to join you for a drink." He adjusted his wrap around sunglasses, "But you were talking to someone. So I just waited my turn."
I thought of saying something suitably polite/rude at the same time, like 'Wisdom does encourage a certain efficiency as one grows older' but held back. Instead I turned back to my little bottle of sake and the cup, motioning him to sit. "It's an idea from about three different places, but yes, it allows a very short connection to my home." I offered him one of the other cards at random from the leather case, Welf.
He reached into his monk robe with one hand, accepting the card with the other, "What an interesting way to work metal..." He took a small sake cup from his robe, and I filled it for him, "Thank you." He sipped from the cup, "He seems like an amusing fellow. You respect him a great deal too."
"He is my teacher for almost all things metal. Once he found out I knew a little of the craft, he was practically falling over himself to get me to pick up a hammer." I sipped from my cup, "So, aside from the free drink, what's on your mind?"
He handed the card back to me, "I was just coming to see how you were doing." He chuckled, "You've managed to fix a few things already, and seem more balanced than before."
"My measure to stay sane became a crutch." I shrugged, "And now I've got another tool to help me get home."
"Not yet you don't." He chuckled, "You're still weak as a kitten with your newfound power."
"True. I'm not going to just run off and try and burn all my enemies with..." I held out my hand again, summoning the little foxfire ball, "At the moment, I'll only trust this to light the way for others, and maybe light the odd candle." I dispelled the fire, then looked at my tails, still happily in my lap, "But with my new connection, I've gained more strength for my less conventional methods."
We sat and sipped in silence for a moment or two, then, "Let's hope you have time to learn more then."
"Expecting trouble?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Consider who you deal with." He chuckled.
"Fair. Good thing I'm not one to sit idle. Vacation is almost over, and I've got lots of things to work on. Again."
"I suggest you get your shrine rebuilt." He said, "It will help in the days ahead I think."
"Already have the plans drawn, the material on hand, and the extra hands to help put it up." I smiled, "For all the trouble they have flying about around them, the people I deal with are good people."
He chuckled, "Very true. They've done some amazing things in the last few months. Don't forget your shopping list." He stood up, "I'll stop by again when they publicly sign the treaty." he grinned, "And see how you're progressing."
"I'll gladly accept another lesson, Sun Wukong." I nodded, "You don't have to make it all business though, visit my shop some time. I want to see what's different between your staff and the replica Bikou has."
He paused, one foot hanging out over the edge of the roof, about to jump down. Turning, he said, "You wouldn't happen to know where he is, would you?"
I sipped the last of my sake, "Maybe Canada? He's avoiding you for some reason."
"Off to find a mountain top I suppose..." He turned, "Drink some water before bed."
Realizing I'd potentially just outed poor Bikou, I looked at the sake bottle, "Good idea... After. Almost done the bottle." Bikou could probably do with some extra exercise anyhow.
October 2
"I still feel like people are staring at me." I mumbled as Kunou (the adorably human looking miko in training) Yasaka (nearly indescribably beautiful) and myself (the tall Miko), walked through one of the shopping districts of Kyoto.
I had done my best to hide my tails, and succeeded too! Except it felt like any sudden surprise might make them appear again. My ears on the other hand, were laying flat to my head, with my hair hiding them. The two of them had convinced me to do my souvenir shopping without any armour, equipment or help from Delly. Basically, a test. I wasn't sure why I agreed, but here we were...
Well, okay, not all my equipment... I had a healing potion (I did promise myself to never leave home without one). Otherwise? Nope, just the Miko robes.
"They likely are." Yasaka replied with a smile, her usual super fancy kimono/shrine maiden/high priestess outfit toned down to super fancy fall yukata.
"Big sister is so tall." Kunou said, walking beside her mother in a less colourful Miko outfit, white and brown, instead of white and red.
"Don't get too distracted Kunou-chan." Yasaka warned, "How much were you looking to buy? I am not very familiar with the more modern shops, but I do have a few favourites."
"Let's start there then, Yasaka-sama." I nodded, "I suppose the ones trying not to be seen are going to help with carrying things home?"
She looked a little embarrassed, "After what happened, my usual entourage refused to let me walk with only you nearby." She sighed, "But yes."
I'd almost missed them, but there were more youkai around us than usual. My glasses let me see them for what they truly were in some cases, like the two Kurasa-tengu, who had been playing tourist with us from the other side of the street, looking like your average foreigner. There were others, ranging from window washing Nue, to children who weren't actually children. Hiding in plain sight, dressed like normal people, doing normal things.
"Just shows how much they care for you." I nodded, my nose catching the scent of something, "Oh, is that licorice root?"
She did indeed have a few favourite stores. The normal humans running them were all smiles, polite, and suggested all kinds of things ranging from deep discounts, new products and even other stores if they were out of something she'd come to buy previously. It was clear she was respected or at least admired by even the normal people too. Thanks to that, and her charming smile, I was rapidly going through my list of things to buy.
By lunch, we'd sent several armloads of things back to the Hidden Capital, and were thinking about food. Thankfully I hadn't lost control over keeping my tails hidden, but it was a near thing more than a few times.
"You've done well." Yasaka commented as we waited for our orders of ramen. "Have you considered how you are returning? You've picked up a little more than one should carry by themselves."
"I just happen to know a good delivery man." I smiled, "I think... when I leave tonight, I'll run back to Kuoh."
"My my. You seem confident." She smiled, "It's not a short distance you know, and with Shinkage by your side, you may attract a little unwanted attention."
"Well, if the worst happens, I happen to have a wonderful fairy who can hide the giant metal cat. And I've gotten a good handle on changing back with clothes on. Though, there is one more lesson I'd like to ask for, if you would be so gracious to teach me?"
"Oh?" The aged man behind the ramen cart's counter placed our orders in front of us, "What might that be?"
I held off on my request while the three of us took the exact same slurps of the amazing ramen, chewed then swallowed, "I've got to learn how to do this properly..." I mumbled, "Being a land holder, however temporary, has given me access to the land. Except... I have no real idea how to do it. When my shrine met with Loki, I'd drawn power from it, but I didn't know what I was doing, or how it was done."
"Very well." We all took another mouthful of noodles, "Kunou is also learning this, and it will be her duty some day to hold Kyoto as I do now."
Kunou pouted, "But I hate mediation... It's so boring..."
"Yet it must be done." Yasaka smiled, "Let's finish this before it gets cold, and return."
After returning, relaxing a little, making a 'phone' call to Cime to have him come and pick up my small pile of souvenirs to deliver it to myself back in Kuoh, then getting Sona on the actual phone to start the enrolment process for Kunou, we got down to my final lesson of my stay in Kyoto.
"The way you describe your ability to return to your shrine, and how you called on the power of the land while you fought with Loki, makes me wonder about your luck." She smiled, "While the distance isn't too great, you have already accessed the ability to travel through the dragon veins of Kuoh."
"My luck has been described as 'back handed' more than once." I nodded.
"There may also be a vein running under the school that passes under your shrine. Which may also explain how you've done it without knowing how. Had there not been, it likely would never have happened." She continued, "As for your drawing of power, be sure to thank your two guardians. They have served you well."
"They have been the best shrine guardians I never knew I wanted." I smiled.
"Drawing on the power of the land can be dangerous. Not only for you, the receiver of the land's gift, but for the land itself, which relies on that power to function." Kunou joined us at the table, and unrolled the map we used to undo Cao Cao's plan to use Yasaka and Kyoto's ley line system. "Thank you Kunou-chan." A pause, "Hmm, this may need a little updating. We will see."
We put little weights on the corners of the map, and she continued, "Here, at the seat of my power," She put her finger on the map, where a great many of the lines on the map crossed, "I can feel, and manipulate nearly all of Kyoto's power. However, if I meddle too much, I may disrupt the harmony of the power. This could lead to drought, poor soil, lower fish populations, any number of things, as the natural world depends on the Earth's energy."
She moved her finger towards the edge of Kyoto, where some of the lines had been drawn in red, then later in blue, "Once, the land had been sick, someone had come and tried to draw on the natural harmony of the land." She traced her finger back to the Hidden Capital, "But, I was able to sense the disturbance, and evict them."
"Part of your job then?" I asked, "From here you can feel that far?"
"It is not so difficult." She smiled, "But yes, it is my duty. And yours, while you are in Kuoh." She held out her hands, one to me, one to Kunou, "I will show you what I see, when I look into the pulse of the land."
The... 'trip'? There was very odd. As with each time I'd used the little trick of teleporting to my shrine from the school, it felt like moving, while remaining still. This time though, as we three joined hands and closed our eyes, it was like falling backwards into a tub of warm water. It was much like when I looked inside myself, to where I used to keep my kitsune nature caged, except...
Bigger.
MUCH bigger.
I floated above a massive spiderweb/cracked/glowing/infinitely dark landscape. It reminded me of both the map, but also the eye blink of colourful darkness I'd seen while talking with Le Fey. From where I was, over what looked like a multi layered collection of coloured lines/cracks/webs, I could see that the map really didn't do the real thing justice. While yes, the Shrine of the Hidden Capital was literally in the middle of the massive web of dragon veins, those veins were far more than the two dimensional picture could really show.
Yasaka's voice floated over my ears, "It is from here, that I watch, to make sure no mischief is happening to the land's energy. And ultimately how I was captured by the Hero Faction." I couldn't see her or Kunou, but I knew they were there.
"They caused a problem, and..."
"Yes." She replied shortly, "Come. I will show you something." I felt her hand tug at me, and the lines around us blurred. When the landscape stopped again, my ears started to buzz a bit louder, "This is one of the... sore spots... left behind by your efforts to rescue me."
It was hard to describe. The 'spot' looked... constricted. Like a garden hose with a little twist in it. Not enough to create a kink and block the flow but enough to make the energy inside become noisy with its passing.
"This will correct itself with a little time, but the land is much slower to heal than a person. It may take years." She continued, "But, with our efforts to correct it, it is now like this, instead..." A pause as the landscape of glowing lines warped and twisted, "Of like this."
This was... On this spiritual landscape, it was hard to describe in normal terms, but it was like some one had taking that same garden hose, and scraped it with a cheese grater. It was at the 'end' of one of the glowing lines, a terminus of sorts. But it looked frayed, unnatural... bleeding. The buzzing in my ears was almost like two bits of glass scraping over each other as well.
"This is what was left by the one I had evicted, all that time ago. The land over this spot it barren, and draws negative energy there constantly."
"Where is it, in relation to a normal map?" I asked.
"Mama?" Kunou's voice sounded strained, "Isn't this the haunted mine? Um... The Otani mine?"
"Yes." Yasaka said, "I occasionally visit to exorcise the grounds." The landscape wobbled again, and I felt Yasaka's hand leave mine, "Open your eyes.
I did, and found myself right where I'd started, the candle light of the room seeming far too bright. "Wow... That was..." I shook my head, the buzzing in my ears returning to the very quiet buzz again, "But..."
Yasaka held up a finger, "You cannot rush this lesson." She smiled, "Kyoto is a special case, when it comes to the dragon veins. People like myself, as well as humans, have worked for ages to make the land as harmonious as it is now. Normally, the land does fine on its own, but you've seen what can happen when you are careless."
I nodded, "I understand."
"Very good." She smiled, holding her hands out again, "Let us do something a little more practical."
From then, until dinner time, she showed me how the very basics of 'drawing power'. This of course came with the same warning as Senjitsu. If the land was corrupted, or out of balance, it may share that with the one drawing power from it. It was one of the reasons she was respected so greatly. Her, a single person, nine tailed Kitsune or not, was keeping all of Kyoto from gathering negativity. Keeping the Youkai (who were very sensitive to such things) from going insane, or starving to death, as they 'ate' some of that mana naturally.
So, it was with great care, I 'put my toe into the water', and nothing more than that. It 'felt' a lot like how I grounded out magic. Pulling the unwanted power through my body, weakening it with my magic resistance, then getting rid of it through the ground. Except in this case, I was pulling power up through my body.
Very carefully. Not only did I have very little idea what I was doing, I didn't want to have a repeat of say, the Fenrir incident. While the end result of the lesson (creating a much stronger puff of air at Delly who was showing off how much easier she could do what I was doing) was a good start, I was metaphorically only dipping my little toe into the vast power under the Hidden Capital.
"As you grow your inner power, and learn to see and feel the power in the land itself, you will be able to draw more of that energy forth. Yes, even in the underworld. Anywhere where the land holds life on it." She caught Delly, who had actually been pushed back by my rookie Senjitsu, "Shall we retire for dinner then?"
I bowed to her, "Thank you for your guidance, Yasaka-sama. As a parting gift, leave dinner to me." I paused, "And Kunou-chan. I still need help with the stoves."
"Well, everything is packed up." I said, "Be sure to be nice to him when he arrives."
"Don't worry, he might be a devil, but his horse is a real sweetheart." Delly was giving Kunou one last hug, "Don't be afraid of her, and give her one of Kodori's cookies."
"You didn't eat them all already, did you, Kunou-chan?" Yasaka asked.
"No... but you might want to hide the rest... They are just so tasty!"
"Why not ask for the recipe?" Shinkage replied.
"I could." Yasaka nodded, looking at me.
"It has a bit of a special requirement." I gave Yasaka a meaningful look.
"Oh my... I see. Hmm, maybe I will invite Issei back some time... He never did give me an answer..."
Kunou pouted at her mother, "No fair!"
"You are too young for that, though he is a devil, and will live a long time yet..."
I realized what they were going on about, then shook my head. "You're going to have to negotiate with Rias for that... But that's not in my job description." I looked at Shinkage, then Delly, "All set?"
"Your hat, gloves and phone are secure. And my left paw doesn't have that pebble in it anymore."
"I'm all set to hide us if need be." Delly nodded.
I knelt down and gave Kunou one last ear scroofle, then got a big hug in return, "Suppose I'll be seeing you soon then."
"Yup!" She detached from me, "Sona-san was very kind to help so much."
I stood and gave Yasaka a bow, "Thank you, Yasaka-sama, for your hospitality and instruction."
"It was a pleasure to teach again, and you have more than earned my hospitality. Please, visit any time. Once you have learned more of the ways, you may be able to return here through the dragon veins." She gave me a smile, reminding me of Haruhime's 'gentle affection' smile she gave all our friends back home, "Be safe on your run home."
I turned, and headed towards the stairs that lead down towards the shanty town. I took a deep breath, feeling my inner fire warm up, and with the sensation of fabric sliding over my body, I shed/changed my form, my hands and feet becoming paws between one step and the next, my claws 'tick tick'ing as they touched the stone of the shrine grounds. With one last look towards Shinkage, who nodded, and Delly, who gave the ruff of fur under my eye a scratch, then sat on my back, I started down the steps.
I didn't run down the steps. Sure, I wanted to get back to Kuoh, but part of this trip was to learn to move in my new form. Before, when I'd worn the 'armour' of my fox form, it was all on instinct, the caged half of my power just trying to be helpful. Now though, it was all me, and damned (tail swat)... if I was going to run down a thousand steps of stone.
It also gave me a chance to get one last goodbye in for the youkai of the town. It felt good to be appreciated.
Once out of the Hidden Capital, with Delly using a little magic to keep us out of sight until we hit the edge of town, I started to run. It was much different than on two legs, the act of it an entire body action, instead of just a function of a pair of limbs. But it felt... amazing. As I picked up speed, running through the mostly wild forests and cultivated fields that ran along the train tracks leading back to Kuoh, it was as if the air itself was running fingers through my fur, encouraging me to speed up. Strange yet familiar muscles that felt tireless, the world rushing by as my four legged stride ate up the distance between me and Kuoh.
That wasn't all. As I ran, my nose picked up all manner of things. My adventurer senses were already superhuman, but in this form, I could tell what the farmers, whose fields I dashed through were having for dinner. I could hear animals, big and small, get out of our way as Shinkage and I ran without a care for stealth. And I could see, now that I'd fully connected to... my self... all the youkai I'd only ever guessed were there. Some waved, others hid, others still fell to their knees hoping I'd leave them be...
The train tracks we'd been following went underground, but instead of running into the tunnel, I instead thought of Akeno. As my Miko, I suppose my first real 'believer', I could tell where she was, even from here. So, I ran through the forests over the mountainous terrain that the train tunnel went under, towards the one who'd accepted me along with my wife and Goddess.
I didn't know what time it was, but the moon was high in the air overhead. I could feel now, through that connection I had with the land around me, that I was in my territory now. My run here should have been exhausting. Even as a fresh level five adventurer, I had my limits. If my speed averaged that of the train that got me to Kyoto, that would be about two hours or so of about 150 kph. I probably took longer, and I did stop a couple of times, mostly to drink from a couple of ponds on the way. But otherwise it was a non stop trip.
But I was only breathing heavily. My nose was a bit dry, I had all kinds of things stuck to my fur and tails, I was really hungry... But otherwise, it felt like I could just keep running.
"You okay Boss?" Delly asked from her place on my back, "I am so glad I don't get motion sick..."
"We're here." Shinkage said, "Still have a little way to go, but I can tell Issei is fairly close."
Unable to talk, aside from making fox noises, I gave Delly a brush with a tail, and leaned on Shinkage for a moment, his body feeling wonderfully cold against my fur.
"If you want to keep running, I'll hide you again?"
"Welcome back, Master." The deep voice of Okakai said as he stepped out from behind a tree, "We have kept watch in your absence."
In my current form, the red Oni looked even taller. I looked over my shoulder as best I could, and gave my shoulder muscles a twitch or two. Delly lifted off my back, and with a deep breath, I shed/changed my form, while slipping back into the clothes I had been wearing when I turned into a fox.
And it worked!
Well... Mostly. Somehow my bra got lost in the translation, but since it was all made of mana, it didn't really matter. I also still had the urge to lick my nose, and maybe scratch my ear with my foot, but I resisted and looked up at Okakai. "Thank you for keeping watch while I was gone." Now that I didn't have to look up so far, he seemed less massive.
"It feels good to keep watch for someone I respect." He gave me the slightest of bows, "I see you have learned from the Nine Tails of Kyoto?"
"I have. And hopefully, I won't hurt myself as I learn more. Walk with us. Delly, hide Shinkage please?"
"Aye boss."
"I am looking forward to walking on pavement again..."
I trusted Okakai to be able to hide himself, so I didn't bother speaking for him as we walked out of the forest, and of course, next to the two vending machines. At this point I almost wanted to take them home with me. "Spread the word, Okakai, young Kunou, Yasaka's daughter will be coming to live here a while."
"Oh?" He rumbled, "Ah, going to the devil's school then?"
"Yes. Let me give you the short version of what happened while we were in Kyoto..."
I realized that I'd walked past the school, and stopped at the foot of the stairs leading to my shrine, by the time I'd finished the short version of what had gone on. But I shook it off and looked up at Okakai, "So, if he's not an idiot, he'll deliver the dungeon fragment I'm looking for, and leave without issue."
"We will keep watch." He nodded.
"How are Fukawa and Kurin doing?"
"They seem to be gathering a little popularity. Kurin has a talent for teaching, even more for keeping young youkai in line." He replied, his square face smiling ever so slightly, "I was doubtful, but your idea is bearing fruit."
"Good good. I'll need to speak with her some time soon. Maybe visit myself. I've a lot to learn now that I know I can actually work with the magic you and her use." I nodded, "If you'd like to help rebuild, I will be starting tomorrow."
"I will spread the word." He nodded.
"Thank you." I gave him a fighter's bow, and he turned and left, melting into the shadows after a few steps. "Still feels so weird..."
"Your power has gained the respect of those who follow you. It helps you are also a good person."
"So... Why are we here?" Delly asked, "You might be feeling invincible after that run, but you're gonna need some sleep."
I looked up the steps, "Just kept walking... Hadn't noticed until we got here." I started up the steps, noting that all the fallen trees and dirt had been removed. Akeno's doing no doubt. "Might as well at least give my foxes a pet, since I'm sure guarding a mostly flat empty lot is really boring."
"Speaking of foxes, where's Loaner?"
Since the ghostly white fox didn't instantly show itself by sticking its head out of the nearest pocket, I had to wonder that myself. Of course, the question answered itself, as I spotted a familiar silhouette at the top of the steps. Back lit by a small fire, and riding on top of someone's shoulder was Loaner. That someone was of course Akeno.
"Welcome back, Ko-san." She said with her usual smile.
"Good to be back." I replied, "But it's a school night."
"Loaner," The white fox's tail started flailing around happily as Akeno gave him a chin scratch, "Told me you'd be back around now. And, as the head of HR, I'm making sure you get a good night's sleep. You mentioned opening a food stand for the culture festival, and both Rias-san and Sona-san are holding you to that."
"Busted." Shinkage rumbled, finishing the rest of the steps and brushing Akeno's legs with his side carefully, then turning and nudging her to start down the steps, "Let's go then. You're not the only one who should have a nap."
"You're a metal cat! Why do you even need sleep?" Delly asked, joining Loaner by sitting on Akeno's opposite shoulder.
"I can't eat, so my greatest pleasure is sleeping."
NOTES!
And so we return to Kuoh, with Kodori a little (lot?) wiser for her trip to Kyoto. A little school slice of life-ing, then back to the rating games!
Suppose I should read the next book...
Also, it's my yearly writing vacation! Since I only post on every 5th day of the month, and February doesn't have a 30th, I'll be taking a little break and posting on the 5th of march. Party on, see you then. :)
