No warnings again. There will be notes at the end to link some names mentioned in this chapter. Enjoy!
"What do you think about this nightclub?" Seto asked.
She looked through the mirror to see Katsuya's eyes flick to her. He was lying on his back, scrolling through his phone.
Tonight they were going to try out a nightclub Liam had found. She wasn't sure if she liked the idea her boyfriend and her 'brother' had agreed on something. After the initial tension between the two, she was cautious of the sudden ease. However, Katsuya seemed perfectly fine with the idea.
"I think it could be fun." He sat up. "You don't wanna?"
"No…I'm just not sure." She shrugged and turned around. "The fact that you and Liam agreed on it so quickly…worries me…"
Katsuya just laughed. He lay back on the bed with a sigh.
"Don't worry. I think it'll be good to get drunk." She rolled her eyes. Of course that's what his mind went to. "Plus, no one knows you here. So you can relax."
True. Very true.
"Alright then…" She grabbed her phone from the bedside table. "Let's get going. The sun's gone down already."
Katsuya jumped up and smirked. He slid his arm around her waist and kissed her softly. She kissed him back.
"You planning on having a special drink tonight?" he whispered as they left the bedroom.
She hummed softly with a mischievous smirk.
"It will depend…"
The club was loud. Loud and dark, with flashing lights and lots of dancing. He grinned. Oh so many things could happen in a place like this. He and Seto could easily get a booth, compel someone in, and feast on them. So easy…
But…she wanted to take it slow…
Plus Liam was here…so they probably wouldn't be allowed to.
The trio pushed their way through the crowd to the bar. Sitting, they each ordered a drink. Katsuya smirked as he took a sip of his.
"Well what are we gonna do while we're sober?"
"Get drunk," Liam proclaimed.
Seto laughed a little and so did Katsuya. So someone was a party type of person…
"Let's not," Seto said while taking a sip from her very alcoholic drink. "At least make it an hour before that happens."
Not with the way you're going…
Katsuya shook his head and looked around the crowd. He almost choked on his drink as he saw that tail again! The tail from Kaiba Land! There was definitely a Kitsune around here. And the fact the tail was an ocean blue with a white tip told him it was an Ocean Kitsune.
Each Kitsune had their own individual colour. Usually corresponding to their element. Celestial were a pastel yellow with a white tip. Void were black with a dark grey tip. Spirit were light grey with a mid-grey tip. Wind were a very light blue, almost as light as Blue Eyes blue, with a white tip. Fire were between scarlet red to maroon red with a corresponding white shade tip. Earth were shades of brown with a white tip. River were a cyan blue with a light blue tip. Ocean the ocean blue with white foam tip. Mountain an earthy brown grey with a mid-grey tip. Forest a forest green with a brownish tip, rarely the other way around. Thunder an electric yellow with a mid-grey tip. Time a wooden brown with a white tip. And Sound a deep purple with a dark grey tip.
When any turned into a physical fox, they could dull or alter their colours to look somewhat like a normal fox. Most just used illusions to hide when they couldn't be bothered physically changing the fur.
Katsuya was the exception due to being the First. He could change his colours to anything, so he could hide as any. The only thing that gave him away would be the nine tails while he was with one of the Thirteen. But he hadn't seen any of them in over ten thousand years.
"Alright!" Both startled as Liam slammed his empty glass on the bar. Katsuya then realised there were multiple glasses. How long had he been zoning out? "My Lady Kaseri," he noticed the way Seto rolled her eyes, "may I have this dance?"
Katsuya smirked as Liam stood, hand out. Seto hummed softly while glancing at Katsuya.
"I'm sorry, sir," oh what was this posh English he was hearing? "but I have a partner already. You will have to ask him."
"Ah yes!" Liam turned to Katsuya. "May I take your partner for a dance, kind sir?"
Katsuya laughed a little but said, "Of course. Just don't make a move on her."
Seto fake gasped while Liam mocked offense.
"Never!" He grabbed Seto's hand. "Now let's dance, my lady."
Seto placed her drink down before letting him drag her to the dance floor. Katsuya smiled as she sent a worried look his way. He didn't care. He'd have some time getting tipsy.
As he turned back to the bar, asking for another drink, someone slid into the vacant seat beside him. He glanced at them–
Hold on. Was that…
"It's been quite a while, Rei."
His eyes widened. The woman beside him gave a fox-like smirk. She looked normal at first. Black hair, fair skin, dressed for a nice night at a club.
Then she went Kitsune.
Blue eyes slitted and turned vulpine. Little ocean blue ears rose from under her hair. Looking to her back, he found nine ocean blue tails settling around the seat and on the floor.
"Is it the best idea to let it all out, Umi?" he asked slowly as he looked back at her.
Umi, as was the Nine Tailed Ocean Kitsune's name, smiled. Little pointed canines revealed themselves.
"I've Tricked this whole club." He rose an eyebrow in surprise. "They all think the supernatural is natural. It effects humans the second they walk in the door, then it will disappear as they leave, but they will not say a word of what happened here nor will they remember any supernatural events."
"My…" He glanced down at her bracelet. Silver with a small wave charm. "You can do a Trick that large in this body?"
Umi's smile disappeared to a glare. She looked at the bar instead of him.
"We're nine tails, Rei." She sounded annoyed. "Possessing a human and using magic is nothing hard."
He shrugged and drank some of his drink. She was probably bitter still. He wondered if the others were angry at him for what happened. In a way, it was his fault, but then again, they had it coming. He didn't expect Inari to have such a spell up his sleeve, but it wasn't hard to negate.
Or well, not anymore…
"So why have you Tricked this club?" he asked while leaning down a little to whisper. "Something important?"
"Hah, no." She smirked again but still wouldn't look at him. "This belongs to my Host. I've just made it accessible for supernaturals too." She sighed and looked up at the roof. "It's so tiring moving from body to body…"
"You know you could always spell one to live longer," he muttered before finishing his drink. He placed the glass back down and grinned at her. "That's what I've done with this body."
Umi glanced at him. Her eyes ran him up and down before she huffed.
"And if you were to leave that body, it would turn to dust in less than a day's time."
He inclined his head in a small nod.
"True true, but I don't intend to leave this body." He waved off her surprised expression. "So, why were you following us today?"
The fox stiffened. She avoided her eyes as he set his vulpine red on her.
"…I was just making sure it was you…" she muttered. "…you seem pretty involved with that girl…"
"Hm, yes, but that shouldn't bother you." He smirked darkly. "Unless you're in contact with others of the Thirteen…"
Umi's eyes flashed and she looked away, but it was enough of an answer. So they managed to find each other, huh? He wondered what sort of cult they made…
"You guys bitter about what happened?" he asked.
Umi glared at him.
"Of course!" she hissed. "You promised us freedom, but now we're stuck in these items for eternity!"
"What if I told you I could set you all free?"
She instantly froze.
"What?"
He grinned and stood. He held his hand out to her.
"Come on Umi. Let's dance a little." He let his fake coloured tails out. The crimson red with blood red tips. "I mean, I'm a free Kitsune."
Her eyes widened and they instantly went to his neck. Hope sparkled in her eyes at the lack of his locket. She took his hand and he pulled her into the crowd.
Wrapping one arm around her waist, he guided her to a darker corner of the crowd. It would be bad if Seto saw them, after all.
"How did you escape?" she asked as she curled two of her tails around his own.
He smirked.
"My last host was a little too ambitious." He wouldn't admit she had controlled him. "She thought she had control over me, but I was using her. Letting her. She soon found the spell that locked us away." He spun Umi around so he could hold her close to his chest. "And made a counter spell."
Umi looked up at him.
"Do you remember the spell?" she asked hopefully.
He grinned. Bringing one of his tails up, he let it brush lightly under her chin and across her face. She shuddered a little before leaning into his chest. Honestly…his ability to seduce even the Thirteen was too great…
"I could never forget," he whispered while leaning down a little. "I might tell you all, but only if you help me with a little something…"
She groaned softly. Another two of her tails wrapped around his waist. He did the same so they were on even ground.
"What do you want this time?" she whispered. "Last time you got us all trapped. Will this ruin our lives further?"
"I'm giving you the freedom I promised all those years ago." He gently slid his finger under her chin and tilted her head up. Her eyes…he missed that glaze he saw in the Thirteen when in his presence… "You see, my item is currently missing." Her eyes widened a fraction. "My power has not changed much, but I need it to do the spell. It is very powerful and very taxing on my body." He slowly lowered so they were almost touching noses. "I want to talk to the rest of the Thirteen on a way to get my locket back and release you all."
"…I only know where some of them are…" she whispered. He idly noticed the way she was leaning forward…she smelt like salt… "What about the others?"
"I'm sure with our combined efforts we can find them," he whispered back. "But for now, I need you to promise you'll aid me again. I will fulfill my promise to you all."
Umi hesitated. He almost panicked.
Eventually she sighed and nodded.
"Ok…I'll help you…" He smiled. "What do you need first?"
"I want to see the others. Do you think you could bring them here before the fortnight is over?"
She hummed softly before nodding. He grinned.
"…Celest misses you…"
His eyes widened. Celest…oh gods…
"Does she?" he whispered while accidently letting his emotions through.
Umi smiled and nodded.
"She's one of the few who are looking for you…"
R-Really? Celest…was looking for him?
"Rei, please, when you see her, don't break her heart." Umi's eyes held genuine concern. "She loves you."
He paused.
"I-I know…" …he did too, once… "I'm hoping she doesn't meet Seto."
Umi chuckled a little.
"Very true." He almost flinched as he felt her hand slide up his arm and over his shoulder. "But since neither of them are here…"
Oh…really?
…well…Seto didn't have to know about one little kiss, right?
As they were about to touch, he caught a strong whiff of honey and cinnamon. He froze and Umi promptly closed the distance. His eyes widened.
No wait! Seto was–
"Katsuya?"
He quickly pulled away. Umi blinked, before glancing towards his girlfriend. Katsuya quickly held his hands up, removing his tails from around Umi's waist.
"A-Ah Seto!" He didn't like that glare! "I-It's not what it looks like!"
Umi rolled her eyes. She still hadn't let go of him and didn't seem all too inclined to.
"Relax, girl," Umi said in her almost as cold voice as Seto. Seto's glare turned to her, livid. Katsuya caught Liam watching from behind with a small frown. Oh gods! Don't say this comes under the promise… "I pulled him into it." He looked at Umi now. She was taking the blame? "It's been a long time since I've seen Rei, and I couldn't help myself."
Seto frowned and looked at Katsuya again. He nodded quickly.
"I wouldn't cheat on you!" He really wouldn't. He loved Seto. "I just didn't get much of a chance to explain…"
Umi huffed. She removed her tails from his waist and crossed her arms. Katsuya paused, before pulling his own tails back in.
"For once," Seto growled, "I'm going to let this go." He relaxed. Oh thank you… "But," she was talking to him! "If I catch you with another Kitsune, we're going to have some problems…"
He nodded very fast.
"I-I understand!"
"Good." Seto cast her violet eyes to Umi now. "So who are you? And why are you putting your fox on full display?"
Umi smirked.
"This club is under my control," she said while looking at the roof. Seto and Liam both frowned. "I've Tricked the humans into thinking the supernatural is natural."
"Supernatural is natural?" Liam echoed. His eyes suddenly darkened. "Ooh…"
Katsuya cocked his head as the man randomly grabbed a girl from the crowd. Seto turned as the girl shouted in protest.
"What are you–"
"Don't fight."
She instantly stopped. Katsuya glanced at Umi now. Her eyes were narrowed in confusion.
"…they…aren't human?" she asked him.
"Nope!"
Liam bit into the girl's neck and Seto sighed. She turned back around, pointedly ignoring the blood. Katsuya smirked and walked towards her, slipping his arm around her waist and holding her close.
"You can trust Umi," he said softly. "She's pretty loyal."
Umi merely grunted in response. Seto glanced at him, irritation still shinning in her eyes, but she sighed.
"He's going to be a while." She gestured to the still feeding Vampire. "Do you want to dance?"
"Sure."
He turned to say goodbye to Umi, but she was already gone. Hmm…he hoped she'd get him a meeting with those she found…
"Come on."
He followed Seto into the crowd.
This night couldn't get any weirder…
Ok…she was definitely drunk…
Just the fact she let some ancient fox get away with kissing her ancient fox was enough proof…
Seto sighed. She was currently nursing a drink in a booth. Katsuya had left a little while ago to go get another drink. She wondered if he was going to bring back someone to drink…
She was starting to get hungry after all…
Mentally shrugging, she took a sip of her normal drink. She could feel the tip of her fangs as she ran her tongue over her teeth. She knew her eyes were violet. But she didn't care.
That Kitsune had Tricked everyone…so it was fine…
"Excuse me?" She blinked. Huh? Someone talking to her… "Might I join you?"
She looked up. A…man…she didn't know…
…oh what the hell.
"Sure…"
The man smiled and slid into the booth next to her. She shifted a little at the close proximity. He was handsome. Black hair, dark skin and deep amber eyes. He wore a nice suit, but she couldn't help but think it was a little fancy for the place they were at.
But then again, she couldn't be judging. She was just wearing jeans and a t shirt with a jacket.
"What are you doing here alone?" he asked.
She paused, about to tell him she wasn't, when a thought struck her. She could play with this a little…Katsuya didn't hesitate after all…
"My friend's gone to get drinks," she said with a small smile. "But they shouldn't be back for a while."
She caught the flash of opportunity. At least it wasn't lust…
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Seto." No way was she going to use her real name. "You?"
"Kage," he said while placing a hand on his chest. "It's nice to meet you, Seto."
"You too…"
A small silence fell and she took the time to look over him. Her eyes drifted to a golden watch. It was a strange design…the face was obsidian and the numbers ivory…
"That's nice…" she said while gesturing to the obviously expensive watch. "Where did you get it?"
Kage looked down at the item. She thought she caught a slight bitterness in his eyes before he looked at her with a smile.
"It's a family heirloom." His smile widened just a little. "Dates back a good couple hundred years."
She smiled.
"That's interesting…" She idly grabbed her day necklace. "This is one of my family's heirlooms."
He looked at the necklace with a slight seriousness. She felt suspicion rise in herself. What was he thinking…?
"It's very beautiful," he commented eventually. "Do you know where it came from?"
She shrugged.
"I think it's from England." Did he just relax a little? "Why do you ask?"
"Oh well, I just like to know." …is his smile turning foxish… "Some items have magical properties after all."
Oh come on! Another Kitsune?!
"Alright…" She leaned back and crossed her arms, dropping the nice façade. He drew back a little in surprise. "Who are you? A Thirteen?"
His eyes widened. Then they darkened.
"How do you know about that?"
She grinned, showing off her fangs. He blinked in both confusion and surprise.
"I'm supernatural myself, Kitsune." He grew uncomfortable. "So? Are you here because of my partner?"
"Partner?" he echoed. "You…" He frowned. "You're involved with a Kitsune?"
She rolled her eyes. God…didn't these only show up because of Katsuya? Because they knew him?
"Hey Seto, I couldn't find–"
She looked up as Katsuya's voice stopped. The blond was staring wide eyed at the man before her. The man stared back.
"Kage?"
"Rei?"
She groaned aloud and slumped in her seat. Great…more Kitsune shit…
"What…" Katsuya's voice started as a lost whisper, before something clicked in his mind. He suddenly switched into the fox persona and grew protective. "Did you touch her?"
"What? No!" Kage quickly shook his head. "Not yet, at least."
With a soft growl, Katsuya sat between them. Kage moved so he was on the other side of the table. Seto glanced at the two foxes. Ok…so another Thirteen by the looks of it…
Did this club just attract the supernatural?! First Liam offering to come here. Then Umi being all "I Tricked the humans" and kissing Katsuya. Of course there had to be one more!
"What are you doing here?" Katsuya asked Kage.
The man moved back and leaned against his seat too. He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Umi wanted to meet," the other fox answered with a smirk. "I'm assuming you've seen her already?"
Katsuya grunted. His eyes were steadily turning blood red. Seto couldn't tell if it was a negative or not just yet.
"Why were you talking to Seto?"
Kage hesitated. Seto frowned. Now why was he…
He seemed so confident before, but now that Katsuya was here…why was he backing off?
"…I was looking for a host…" the man eventually answered. "One of my kin lost their body."
While Seto's frown deepened, Katsuya's eyes widened.
"You guys are still in contact with your offspring?"
Wait what?!
"Offspring?" Seto questioned. "I thought Kitsune couldn't have children?"
Katsuya looked at her. He smiled a little.
"Well…it's like they're all in the same family." He looked back at Kage. "Kage is the first Void Kitsune. As time went on, other Void Kitsune came into existence. They are all loyal to him and will do anything he says. All of the Thirteen care for their kin, so it makes sense for Kage to be looking for a host. Although," Katsuya cocked his head, "why are you? Shouldn't your kin be used to finding hosts by now?"
"They are." Kage pulled out a bracelet. It was golden with a black jewel. "But the thing is, over half the Kitsune have been destroyed." While Katsuya's eyes widened in surprise, Kage continued with, "I only have three left."
"Three?" Katsuya echoed in disbelief. "But…Kitsune can't die!"
Kage just shrugged and shook his head.
"I guess we can if we feel we have no purpose." He sighed and placed the bracelet down. "This is Yami. My six tail. Do you remember her?"
Katsuya paused, before nodding. Seto glanced at the blond. It was…unusual…being the one on the sidelines…
"Someone killed her last host." Both of them frowned. Killed? Why? "I think they may have thought she was possessed by a demon, so they resorted to final methods." He shrugged. "I don't really know. But I thought I would help her find a new body since she is still loyal to me after all these years."
"And you were going to take Seto," Katsuya summarised.
Kage paused again, before nodding slowly.
"But I didn't know she belonged to you." Excuse me? Belonged?! "I'm sure there's other women here we can use."
Katsuya didn't really respond. Instead, he glanced out at the crowd.
"How many Kitsune are left…?" he whispered.
Seto looked at Kage. The man thought, before saying softly, "I know Umi has four left. Kaen has six. Shin has four. Arashi has four. Kazehas five. And Ji has two." Kage shrugged even as Katsuya looked back at him with surprise and…something she couldn't quite place yet. "I don't know about the others."
"I know."
All three of them looked up. Umi smiled before sliding in next to Kage. She still had her ears and tails on display. She leaned on the table and started listing off on her fingers.
"Yama has four. Kawa has three. Chikyuhas three. Oto has two. Sei and Celest only have one other than themselves."
Seto easily translated majority of the names from Japanese to English. They were the elements of the Kitsune. Except for Celest, which she assumed was Celestial. Some were cut nicknames.
But she was struck by the very few Kitsune left in the think they had been cut down so much…
Katsuya, also, seemed surprised. No actually…he seemed almost horrified.
"That's it?" he whispered. "That's all that's left?"
Both Kitsune nodded. Umi avoided her eyes while Kage leaned forward a little.
"Sorry Rei, but obviously Inari had a backup plan from the start." Inari? As in…the god? "But I mean, we're still around…"
Katsuya leaned back with a sigh. He closed his eyes before reopening them in their full blood red vulpine.
"Please don't die," he muttered. Both Kitsune showed variations of surprise. Katsuya sighed and looked at Seto. She blinked. Finally giving her some attention? "We should go."
Wondering how long until you'd say that…
As she went to stand, Kage interrupted.
"Wait Rei…" The both looked at him. "You need to keep an eye out. Celest is hanging around." Again with this Celest person… "She's looking for you."
Huh? Looking for Katsuya? Why?
"I know." Huh? "Umi told me." Oh. "Well let's keep in contact." He smirked and Seto stood. Time to go. "See you around."
As they were about to leave, Umi whispered under her breath, "Goodbye…First…"
Seto froze.
First?
"Where's Liam gotten off to?" Katsuya asked as he walked past her into the crowd. She stirred from her thoughts and followed him. "Is he feeding somewhere?"
"Probably," she muttered. "…so you knew the Thirteen?"
Katsuya nodded. They had made it out of the bar and where now walking back to the mansion.
"You could say we were friends."
"…how do you have nine tails?"
Katsuya blinked. He looked at her confused.
"What do you mean?"
"Well…" Seto look ahead. "Rika said only the Thirteen and the First have nine tails." His eyes began to widen as it dawned on him how much he messed up. "Kage and Umi listened off Thirteen Kitsune, yet your name wasn't one of them." She looked at him. He had stopped walking. "You're the First, aren't you?"
There was a moment where Katsuya seemed torn between the truth and another lie. Eventually, he let out a shuddered breath. It fogged in the cold air.
"…Seto…"
He didn't know what to say.
Sighing, she walked back towards him. She grabbed his hands. They were warm.
"I want you to be honest with me," she whispered while meeting eyes with him. No compulsion and no Tricks. "Are you the reason Kitsune are trapped in objects? The reason your kind play with humans as if they're toys? Are you the First Kitsune?"
He looked away.
"What are you going to do?" he whispered. "Are you going to leave me?"
She blinked, surprised that was where his thoughts went. She shook her head and stepped closer still.
"Katsuya." His whole body tensed. She fought off a frown. "Katsuya, I love you. I'm not going to leave you because you destroyed your whole race." She smirked when he looked at her. "That was thousands of years ago. Everyone has a dark past."
He stared, before smiling softly.
"Thank you…"
She just smiled back. It was a messed up world. If she had fallen in love with a psychopath, then that was her fault. And anyway, he had changed over the long years. It was obvious by those Kitsune's reactions to him.
"Let's go home," she whispered while moving to his side and taking his hand. "You're going to show me your true form."
"W-What?!"
She nodded, determined. She gave her Kaiba smirk and Katsuya groaned softly.
"I think I deserve to see you properly."
Katsuya sighed and looked up at the sky.
"You know I look different, right?" He looked back down at her. "My true form is…it's not me…"
She shrugged.
"Then just put your tails on this body." He blinked in surprise. "What? I'm a Vampire. Supernatural is natural."
He laughed a little and shook his head.
"Of course…" He sighed again. "Alright. I'll show you, but not tonight." He grinned and pulled her to his side by wrapping an arm around her shoulder. She sighed softly in annoyance but didn't make an effort to pull out. "When we get back to Japan. I'll show you."
She smiled and nodded. Ok…she could wait a couple weeks…
Nine Tailed Kitsune (In Order of Appearance):
Umi - Ocean Kitsune - Female
Kage - Void Kitsune - Male
Kaen - Fire Kitsune - Male
Shinrin (Shin) - Forest Kitsune - Male
Arashi - Thunder Kitsune - Female
Kaze - Wind Kitsune - Female
Jikan (Ji) - Time Kitsune - Male
Yama - Mountain Kitsune - Male
Kawa - River Kitsune - Female
Chikyu - Earth Kitsune - Female
Oto - Sound Kitsune - Male
Seishin (Sei) - Spirit Kitsune - Female
Celest - Celestial Kitsune - Female