Zypher: you asked and i delivered! the first of three mini works to become full works out of my collection "How Sweet the Summer Breeze Feels...". so the work in question was originally posted over on ao3 and well received there, many showing interest in the works and hoping for a continuation for some of them. i was very much inclined to agree towards some of the AUs that found themselves a continuation through more of the prompts that were given for PuzzleJune. one of them being the kitsune AU that was the best in my bunch between the siren and dragon rider AUs. so after deciding to show i haven't dropped off the face of fanfiction, i brought it here to see if people wanted to see the same and it showed that many loved the kitsune AU. so instead of leaving it an ao3 exclusive, i decided to bring it here as well but know well that content here will differ in chapters so for anything that is to be cut will be shown in full over there, same title~

without further ado, i welcome you to this little homely tale, a peek into the lives of the inari king and his woodland queen~

disclaimer: i own nothing here except the plot. all rights belongs to respective owners.

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Summary: Yugi, an inspiring game designer, is queen to the woods and wilds managed by his marvelous inari king, Atemu. Join him through the seasons as he leads the life of human and fae til the end of his mortal coil, where he is to be reborn as kitsune and become one with the spirit world entire.

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Tales of the Inari King and Woodland Queen

Chapter 1

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It was happening.

It was finally happening.

A game designing contest was announced worldwide and Yugi put in his work for Spherium for review. It had everything down to the very last detail and Yugi put so much hope that the project would win and see to development. Of course, those prayers and wishes were always heard by a certain fox and that very same fox would chance a little push of incentive to show favor for his game. "Don't do it, Atemu. It's not right and you know I don't condone cheating." Yugi warned after his notes were sent off. Atemu had pouted but the inari king knew not to disobey his queen. He was just a selfish king and wanted the organizers of the contest to realize all of the hard work and passion Yugi had put into his game. It would be a terrible thought for all of that to go to waste.

While Yugi was waiting for the contest to see its deadline for entries from others just as hopeful as he was, he was fraught with worry. Pacing back and forth in his room day to day, fingers itching for something to do now that Spherium was out of his hands. Just as Atemu does, Sugoroku gave him encouragement that his game would be a hit with such an unique basis that differed from so many others that could be placed into the running. Anyone could make a fighting game or a JRPG with a fanatical plot that hasn't seen overuse in the gaming community. So many ideas though, from AAA to indie developers just starting out, anything was touch and go with such a large audience and Yugi was beginning to get desperate that his game would even be the slightest viewed.

Atemu couldn't bear the sight of his queen fretting and decided to do something to busy his thoughts and his hands. "Yugi, my darling dove, perhaps I can do something to ease your troubled mind." Atemu offered a few days later since Yugi sent in his submission. The smaller male had finished breakfast and was ready to do a few errands at the request of his mother when Atemu came up beside him. "Huh...well a distraction would be nice. Let me get those errands done first." Atemu smiled, leaning down to press a kiss to Yugi's cheek. Then I'll prepare, Atemu spoke as he left the bedroom once Yugi had gotten dressed and was off to take care of the errands. While he was out at the market, basket in hand, Yugi wondered what his inari husband would be up to.

There were a slew of things that could be planned. A run through the forest or perhaps a swim at the lake before it got too cold with the coming winter. Maybe a visit with Judai and Yusei as the two were always eager to see Yugi and find games to play together. Rather, Judai was for messy games like tag while Yusei was for more strategic games and feats of magic. Yugi didn't mind either and was prepared to see what games would be arranged once Atemu came to pick him up when he was done shopping. "I definitely need a distraction. All this business with the contest will have me go crazy worrying whether Spherium will get the chance I hope it does." Yugi murmured to himself, setting a few cans that his mother wanted into the bag and continued on his way through the store.

Once everything was gathered, Yugi moved to the counter to pay and upon standing outside, he was greeted by an unusual guest. The cry of the crow to come down had startled him and a few pedestrians around him but his fear eased when he noticed the scroll tucked in its claws. A message from Atemu no doubt. With a smile, he nodded for the crow to find purchase upon his shoulder as he walked towards home, bewildering many walking past with a wild crow upon his shoulder to come to him without calling for it. "Something from my dear king, I presume?" The crow bobbed its head in agreement, Yugi holding his hand up for the scroll to be dropped into his palm. The crow lifted its talon to do just that before nesting quietly on his shoulder as Yugi unraveled the parchment.

"To my loving woodland queen~ Such a sap." Yugi teased before he continued to read the scroll, a simple but loving message to come to his shrine once finished with his errands and he'd be there awaiting his arrival. Yugi nodded before reaching up to stroke the crow against its breast as thanks for delivering the scroll. Fluffed feathers showed the crow's approval and stuck around with Yugi until he reached the storefront of the game shop and took off. Stepping inside, he greeted his grandfather at the counter who gave a warm grin before telling him where his mother was. "Thanks jii-chan! I'm going to take these to her then head out for a walk to clear my head a bit. This contest does have me a little on edge but I can't be worrying myself to death over it." Sugoroku grinned more, nodding in agreement and told him to be back before dark as Yugi went past the counter and up the stairs to place the bags in the kitchen where his mother was situated in preparing dinner.

Passing the bag to her, Yugi received a fond pat on the head before telling her the same as he did to his grandfather. "Ok, dear. You be back before it gets too late. Understand?" He nodded, giving her a kiss on the cheek before he headed back downstairs and left out the door with a wave to his grandfather and was on his way to the familiar shrine. Yugi hummed with a bit of delight, having missed being in the spirit world. There was still a touch of autumn in the air, the foliage seeing its slow descent from the spurs to land on the grass below their high canopies. Acorns were harvested by the chipmunks and squirrels, a few finding themselves in the hands of other spirits to be turned into some form of delicacy for the winter slumber should they go into hibernation.

He never asked if Atemu would be joining them and decided to one day pose the question to him but until then, he just wanted to relax his mind and heart in a space that gave him such peace. There was no contest, no glaring eyes that were to judge upon his idea. There will be nothing but him, his inari husband and whatever plan he had in mind to clear Yugi's. The crow had come along, flying above with a melodious croon which had the hidden queen smile warmly. It's been days, rather weeks since the autumn feast and the reminder of the announcement that Atemu made there. To grant him the title of queen to rule the woods and wilds of the spirit world by his side. To have spirits and animals alike bow to him with a respect he never gotten in such passion back when he was in high school. To be reminded of those days, of Atemu's first appearance to him and everything to follow after.

All on a simple whim. If Yugi never took that chance, he'd never be here. Be loved and cared for by such a charismatic, witty and beautifully clever creature of a world far removed from reality. A world that was only told by folklore and old tales to teach lessons of bad behavior or taking risks that could be proven dangerous to those that hid in the shadows. That was the side that humans were too accustomed to but Yugi saw that in a different light. Of a place that was nothing but wide open spaces and cluttered with groves able to grow to heights unimaginable. Of the primal world that was lost to industrialization and human influence. The beauty of the natural world that saw seasons just as they did but in such clarity and magnificence that even art couldn't capture it the way he had seen it in the spirit world.

Lost to his musings, Yugi didn't realize he had reached the shrine until he ran into a wall of fluffy tails, making him sputter when met with a mouthful of fur. "Delighted to see you too, dove. You nearly wandered past me though." Atemu's voice chimed with a hint of laughter and Yugi huffed as he pulled back to look at the inari king that stood to the side before the torii gate that was their gateway into the spirit world. It was there that Yugi noticed a new addition to the shrine, a fox statue that rested to the left side of the gate. When did that get there, Yugi wondered before feeling himself being escorted forward by a tail. A gift to myself, Atemu replied to the unspoken question. As money donations were great and all, to have other offerings come there would be even better, the use of them put to better by handing them to the spiritual children who were always curious of the human realm.

Yugi nodded as he went to step into the gate with his husband and once in the loving grove that has claimed his heart in her warm embrace, a smile spread across his face. He was in his home away from home, a space where his heart and soul felt at ease from the busy air of civilization. The thick smog of industry washed away from his body like the morning mist, leaving Yugi refreshed and ready for a new day. It was these subtle things that made Yugi love and grow into the new life he was suddenly dropped into at the claim of becoming Atemu's bride so long ago. He never regretted a single moment of that claim since. Taking in a deep breath of the fresh autumn air, the woodland queen followed after his mate and king as he began to walk off into the forest, still curious of what the other had planned for him. Their walk took them time but when Atemu came to a sudden halt, Yugi nearly ran into the thicket of tails to trail behind him again. "Why we stop?" Yugi asked as he went to move around the other and was greeted to a wondrous sight.

Before him was a small clearing surrounded by the large grove of trees but particularly, about five to seven trees had an oak slab nailed into the thick trunk of another. On those very same slabs were white rings painted around its circumference and with it, deep gouges in the wood akin to that of an arrow piercing through it. "Is this…an archery range?" Yugi asked as he was given no verbal answer, the inari king moving towards a wooden chest carved with ivy vines and willow trees, lacquered into a fine finish. Kneeling down, he opened the chest and took out a longbow and quiver, proving the point of Yugi's inquiry. The smaller gasped with unveiled interest, Atemu sauntering back over with a hearty grin. "Ready for an archery lesson, dove?" Yugi was all too quick to nod his agreement, ecstatic to try. He was sure to not get the hang of it easily but it was a distraction and one of absolute excitement.

Atemu made to start the lesson, showing the basics of handling the longbow, of arm positioning and how to draw the string back. "It is hard to adjust to for the beginning but I believe in my darling queen to adapt as a fast learner." Atemu praised fondly. Yugi blushed towards the compliment, taking the longbow to do as directed by example. Of course, as one to never hold any sort of bow in his life, not even for gym class, Yugi didn't get the hang of handling it as easily as Atemu made it look. It amused him, that was certain, but as Atemu always was, he was patient with Yugi's inexperience. As the sun rose higher, the two took a break by the river, gathering berries to eat and drank deep from the crystal clear waters free of contamination. Yugi smiled as he settled beside his loving king, fingers laced with his own as they were nested in his silken tails.

The birds tweeted their merry songs while a grasshopper chirped somewhere in the verdant blades. Everything was the perfect setting of tranquility and Yugi could feel his eyes grow heavy to the call of a nice nap. Atemu's tails always had that charming effect on him. Yugi didn't realize it but he did drift off and by the time he woke again, a simple spread of food laid before him. Fresh bread still steaming with warmth was paired with jam and hazelnut spread all settled on an oaken slab. A silver pitcher with a sweetened berry juice chilled with condensation clinging to its surface sat beside it. His favorite walnut scones sat in a wooden bowl drizzled with fresh honey from the hives and behind him, Atemu was enjoying one. Scarlet eyes glanced down with playful mirth as he greeted his queen to the living world. "Afternoon, dove. Sleep well?" Yugi stretched, feeling his back pop in satisfying relief as he nodded. Nestled in Atemu's tails always warranted good sleep. The fox gave a toothy smile, running his claws through his mate's soft mane before offering him to partake in the food brought to them.

"Eat your fill, sweetling, then we'll continue practicing your archery form." Yugi did as told, feasting happily on the forest's bounty, the warm bread with jam and buttery spread a decadent treat to his palate. Paired with the refreshing berry juice, the queen was utterly content once full. Atemu already had his so he enjoyed seeing his queen delightfully happy to the wonders of nature and all that she gives to provide. Meal polished, Yugi sucked the honey from his fingers with a content hum, praising the work of the bakers who always made the sweet treats he loved to indulge in. He had to remind himself to have Atemu give his compliments to them. Everything was cleaned up and the two ventures back to the archery range to continue the lesson. It took a good bit of the day but with that time, Yugi had gotten a handle on the longbow and was able to draw the string back taut for the arrow.

"Now that you have your form, we can give shooting a try." Atemu spoke, taking the longbow in hand and quiver settled over a shoulder. Watch carefully, he bid to his queen and Yugi watched with rapt attention. Atemu notched an arrow fluidly, corded muscle showing tastefully as he brought his arm back and aimed with promise towards the bullseye. Sharp eyes focused on the target ahead, leaving his queen amazed at his king's focus. So focused was he that he jumped when the twang of the bow string echoed through the silent forest. The arrow whistled towards the target and sunk into the center. However, Atemu didn't stop there as he drew two more arrows, notching them with just as much fluidity and hit two more targets in rapid succession, this time in the back past the first row. His king was absolutely perfect in every way.

Yugi clapped at the king's showmanship, Atemu reveling in his queen's praise and admiration. Now it was Yugi's turn but he didn't feel as confident as Atemu did to shoot an arrow with such accuracy. "My dear sweetling, I don't expect a perfect bullseye on your first lesson. Nor do I expect you to hit your first moving target once we achieve that level. This is but a lesson, not a challenge." Atemu spoke, threading gentle fingers through Yugi's hair before tickling his cheek to get a giggle from his lovely queen. A smile pulled over Yugi's face before he stood to join his king taking the longbow and quiver in hand to start. Atemu didn't let him shoot an arrow quite yet as Yugi had to practice with not doing some of the common mistakes of archery. Easily, Yugi had to be corrected a few times on his stance and hand positioning as it proved to be a completely different feel once the arrow was brought into play.

Yugi felt the strain as well when told to hold the arrow for a longer time than it took for Atemu to make his shots. "Many would think this but as you can see by the strain of your arm," Atemu began as he lifted Yugi's arm which was lowering itself like a lead weight. "It feels like it weighs a ton, doesn't it?" The other nodded before being told to relax his arm and Yugi did so quickly, rolling his shoulder. Don't hold the draw for too long, lesson learned. Their lesson continued until the sky was swathed in orange, red and purple of the coming dusk. Yugi didn't get the chance to shoot but took to heart every word to come from his inari husband of the art of archery. He was invested and wanted to learn so much more about it. "Then I will gladly teach you more, dove. Not just archery but all of my skills of nature. I can teach you falconry, trapping, fishing and scavenging. All skills that go unpracticed in the human realm but for you to know all this will make you queen of the wild hunt. A glorious title to add to your collection, if I do say so myself~" Atemu stated proudly as he took the arrows from the targets to return everything to the chest.

"That would be wonderful, Atemu." Yugi replied with a tender smile, following the king who was quick to settle a tail around his queen with care until the chest was shut. Thoughts cleared, Atemu asked as the two started back to the torii gate to return them home. Completely was Yugi's reply with another warm smile, pleasing the king. That was all he wished for out of the day. For Yugi to be unburdened by the stress of his game gaining its worth in the contest. With his focus somewhere else and hands busy with something new, Atemu had done his job and will continue until the results were announced. Before they left their spiritual paradise, Yugi stopped his king only to bring him down for a kiss as thanks for all he's done. "My mind is cleared now. I can't thank you enough for getting my mind off the contest for a day."

"And I'll keep doing so until we see what the contest says of your game, dove. I still expect no less than success for all the work and heart you placed into it."

Atemu proved that his surety was sound to believe in his queen for when the contest announced its winners, Spherium was the most acclaimed project in concept and execution. It was to be put into immediate production, the project taken on by KaibaCorp. When Yugi received the letter and assured that Atemu had no hand in the decision ("So speculative, dove~ But I would never betray your word, even for all my tricks."), he was in tears as he told his grandfather and mother the good news. "I told ya, my boy! Your game is going to be a hit! You worked and prayed hard to achieve this and it was heard~" Sugoroku spoke and Yugi was inclined to agree though his words did spark a thought. And such a thought is what occupied the young queen's mind as he sat in for another archery session though Atemu was just doing a few shots, making bullseye with resounding peaceful thuds of metal into wood.

"Sweetling?" The voice woke Yugi from his thoughts and looked to his king who watched him with a bit of concern. Is all well with you, he asked, setting the longbow and quiver to the side to bring himself to Yugi's side. Yugi smiled to show that nothing was particularly wrong emotionally but there was a thought to tickle the back of his mind. "Atemu, I know we had shared many years together, both as friends, lovers and now married as king and queen to an entire forest ecosystem but...would you reveal yourself and meet my family?" Atemu was shocked by the request but knew well it was deserving. After all, Yugi did agree to the textbook definition of eloping of his own volition. His family didn't know whom he was married to and only fair to explain the topic with the physical representation there. Otherwise, he'd be looked at like he was insane and lost to the imagination of a forlorn love. Spirits and other realms aren't so easily believed in this day and age.

"Do you think they'll be accepting of your decision? These times don't play nice when it comes to strange and mystic feats of power." Atemu murmured. His concern wasn't about his presence. It was how Yugi would be perceived by his family once the story was told. Too often as he wandered the streets of Domino did he see the results of neglect towards a child when the parent is unaccepting of their choice and such often results in disownment. The king couldn't bear that of his queen. He still had a full life to live even with the knowledge he had a home within Atemu in the spirit world. Yugi tented his fingers as he thought about it. He was sure his grandfather would understand. Age usually equates to wisdom and his input would be an edge to get his mother to understand their relationship. She was going to be the harshest critic, Yugi was certain of that. Tails came around him before a pair of arms settled around his waist. "Yugi?" Atemu never speaks his name aloud, always one of affectionate monikers.

Yugi let out a light exhale, turning in Atemu's arms to hug him. "I'm alright. I'm a little scared of what my mother will think but no matter what goes down, you are my king and husband. I won't leave you. You've done too much for me to leave you now at the whims of my parental figure." Atemu smiled at his queen's loyalty, kissing his forehead before he agreed to meet his family. It will be an interesting turn of events but Yugi was confident that all will go well. And if it didn't, he will still be happy with the decision he chose for himself in becoming queen to a whole different dimension, to have gentry that adored him and a king that loved and respected him. Yugi wouldn't change any of this for the world as he was so happy for the life he had been granted all on a single prayer of his youthful days.