Chapter 8 Foxes and Fire

Anima forests

Kituma has been walking for an hour or so from his former home while in the White Fang Organization. But as he walks he senses, someone else was in these woods as well? And he can hear it fighting Grimm very likely. His curious peak and he decided to see if he can find him/her and maybe help the person out. When he reached his place, he saw a woman slicing almost dancing as she slays Grimm. She had short black with some covering her left eye and guessing by her other visible eye she has amber eyes like Blake and Kali. But her seem to be a dark warmer glow to them compare to Blake's eyes. Her attire was a red dress with gold patterns on it. Her dress was held up by straps tied around her neck in a bow. She also wore black heels and had black crystal bracelet around her right leg. She had separate sleeves with one wrap around her middle finger. The woman had red painted nails as well.

When he saw her flip in the air, he saw she wore black shorts on her and a black bag around her waist. The lady wielded fancy with gold handguards on her sabers. Her bow was also excellent wooden crafted likely self-made while the swords were not. So either given to her or she bought them.

He felt his heart beat at a rapid pace which he notes only happen with Blake? Some other girls almost got there but not quite like Blake and this stranger can. She cleaves the head of the last Beowolf that tried to kill her with a swift swing of her one of her sabers. When the fight was over, she put her blades away to both sides of her hips.

Lady: Barely a warm-up she needs to make more robust if she wants me to-

The lady stopped when she heard clapping behind her. She turned and saw Kituma walking towards her clapping at her performance.

Kituma: well done fantastic form though if you added fire elements to your swords would work for overall all 8/10

Lady: 8/10? Should it be 9/10 if only a fire effect is what you think I needed to add?

Kituma smiled: the fire adds a lot, and I think you make them look good.

The lady smiled. She was finding this fox amusing. Kituma like her looks and she seem very skilled as well so she gets points for that.

Kituma: names Kituma and you are?

Lady: Cinder and I was hunting out here, and I think you found your prey.

Kituma blush: Actually no I'm not looking for a girlfriend at the moment.

Cinder: how can someone so charming not be looking for someone to match his charm?

Kituma: I see you are good at this flirting game Madam.

Cinder: Thank you but don't call me Madam it makes me sound old compared to you.

Kituma: Well you seem like one to age like fine wine.

Cinder smiled

Kituma turned and drew his sword and Cinder did the same with her dual saber with them back to back. More Grimm Came like Beowolves, some Ursas, and some Creeps as well. Both warriors were not worried; they were excited.

Kituma playfully asked: So you think we can take them?

Cinder confident of her skill: I can by myself foxy what about you?

Kituma: Same as you Cindy.

Cinder: …

Cinder hasn't been called Cindy in years. Only her mother used that name for her, and when Kituma said that nickname, she had a smile on her face. It felt right for him to say that for a reason she could not explain at the moment.

Kituma: Say want to have a little game?

Cinder: Like what who kill the most Grimm?

Kituma: Yeah will decide the reward later lets rock these Grimm's world before they exit it.

Cinder smiled she was finding this fox amusing more and more she spends with him. Kituma starts their contest off with a Dark Thrust into one Grimm before stabbing it multiple times to death. He turned around and saw Cinder dash at one and got into a stance to do his Dark Drive Attack. Cinder disarm the left arm of the beowolf she was fighting and cutting across its chest. This cause the Grimm a lot of pain. Her arm forms an x on her chest before she slices the Grimm off its feet launching it into the air a bit. Cinder rolled to the side, so Kituma red energy slash drive killing it. While rolling she sheath her two swords and went to her bow and fire many arrows at an Ursa piercing one of its eyes and two into its neck. She is causing the bear Grimm great pain before she leaps up landing on its shoulder and thrust her saber through the remaining eye of the Grimm through its skull killing it.

She pulled her blade out of the head of the Ursa and leaped off stabbing both her swords down through the head of a Creep killing another one swiftly even up their kills. Kituma meanwhile put his sword and merge Neko into Kitsune making Clever Kitsune and aim at a Creep and blew its head clean off with a powerful shot from his two handguns merged into a rifle. And then he points and fires blowing off the leg of one Beowolf before taking it's head off with another shot. Cinder meanwhile did some slashes across the chest of one Beowolf and before stabbing both down on the head beowolf she was slicing up. Cinder turned around and drew her bow and fire two arrows from her bow piercing the eyes of a Beowolf killing it instantly. The last Grimm was a Creep, and it was running away terrified. Cinder smiled she enjoys when her victims are frightened and don't wish to die.

She ran to it and ready to draw her bow. She leaps over the Creep and snipes down on its head killing it and taking the game and won it. Kituma was disappointed, but he was a good sport and said to Cinder and walk towards.

Kituma: Guess you won Cinder so what you think you should get for being the bane of Grimm?

Cinder Smirk: I have a good idea of what I want from you.

She said this as she got closer to her swaying her hips as she walks staring into his eyes with her amber eyes gazing into his dark blue eyes. Before Kituma ask what she wanted for her victory? She places a hand on his cheek and gently pushes him towards her as she moves in into a kiss?! Kituma was surprised by this, but it felt nice like it was meant to be. Cinder felt the same. Both kept the kiss for a solid minute enjoying the moment from both parties once they separate the lips of one another and look into the other eyes for a couple of seconds before both got more distance away from each other.

Cinder: Sorry if I surprise you but guessing by the look on you're face you don't mind at all.

Kituma smiled: Can't lie is it sad my first genuine kiss was right now.

Cinder: oh it's not sad. It makes this more special for both of us.

Kituma: I see…. Anyway, take care.

As he starts to walk away from Cinder, she wonders where he was going and followed him.

Cinder: So why is a fox Faunus doing in the woods?

Kituma: Can ask why a lovely lady in red in heels doing out of here.

Cinder: To shay Kituma. I have been out here training but I see I been overtraining and it got late before I realize. But I have a camp nearby if you want?

Kituma: Sure.

Cinder smiled: Okay follow me.

Leading him to the camp and Kituma had to try hard not to stare at her swaying ass which Cinder did to see how he react. She smiled when she felt his gaze fall a bit on her booty he under her spell… but she thinks that she was falling for him as well but she was not sure.

Anima Miyamoto Fortress

Adam had got a new mask and was heading to his bedroom to rest for the night. But before got there as he heads through an open part of the fortress.

Ares: You know one of my men saw you and that foxes fight.

Adam: I thought you left an hour ago?

Ares: Straight to the point I see.

Ares reveals himself. Face to face with Adam. Adam wonders why Ares wanted to do with Adam since he did not have any reason to add a weapon to his arsenal.

Ares: I saw the look in your eyes when you looked at that fox.

Adam drew his sword with the tip mere inches from Ares' throat and told the fox to get the point, or he will silence the arms man. Ares smiled and said to the young bull Faunus.

Ares: You want him to be removed. Permanently.

Adam: …

Ares: don't say you're having seconds' thoughts?

Adam: No. I don't think you're men will be able to kill that fox.

Ares: I mean he got skill, but I feel they got a chance.

Adam: Then go ahead and try if you do kill him then I pay you for your work.

And Adam walks off to his room. Ares smiled and pull his phone out and call some of his best men to kill that fox, so they get a cherry on top of a delicious sundae with their deal with the White Fang. His men said they were on it. Ares smiled as decide now to leave the White Fang HQ to head back to his base in Atlas to talk with his little guess who is helping him product to help make more money. Beside something about that fox got him worried. Like he was a demon as well, but he was not quite a demon? He might need to inform his sisters of this fox if he somehow survives the assassins after him.

Anima Cinder's tent

Cinder tent was red with gold patterns, what a surprise. Once they reach the shelter. Cinder open the flap toss her heels inside and said to her new fox friend.

Cinder: take off shoes as you go in. Also what you like to eat?

Kituma: Well I got to wait and see.

Cinder smiled as she heads inside with Kituma following. Once inside he also took his red coat off to fully display his former blue white fang shirt. Cinder recognize the symbol on his shirt as she gets some food from a bag inside her tent.

Cinder: I see you are a White Fang Supporter?

Kituma: Not the new. I did sort of support the old one, but I was not as loyal to that either.

Cinder: I see. Say isn't there a rumor White Fang HQ is in Anima right?

Kituma: has some truth to it.

Cinder: I'm guessing you left the organization?

Kituma: Yes I got tired of doing what they ask of me.

Cinder understood. She brought out noodles for Kituma and herself to slurp up. It was a bit cold, but neither complaint about it since it just a quick snack for catching some Zs once both finish eating the noodles, the two rest on their back and prepare to fall into a deep sleep. With the forest that surrounds them. But while Cinder slept comfortably, Kituma was having trouble sleeping. So he decides to write in his journal. He analyzes his fight with Adam in his hand critic how he did against Adam. As he wrote things were moving through the night towards the tent of Cinder. Kituma faintly heard movement outside due to being a fox, and his above-average hearing even compare to Faunus. He put his book and pencil down and grab Monjiro.

Kituma exits the tent and walks to the direction he heard movement. He saw nothing except bushes and trees and thought he must have listened to a deer roaming around the woods late at night. But he felt a tingle behind his neck, and he smiled. He needed to let his built up frustrating still, those Grimm from earlier did not cut it. A demon creature with metal like devil horns on its head with its arm turn into blade hands making it good at close range combat. It leaps from a tree prepare to stab both its division into the back of the head of the fox. Kituma heard it coming with it battle cry with a flick of his thump he unsheathes Monjiro. He grabs Monjiro and swings behind him cleaving the demon in half. Kituma was not done and slicing him up for shits and giggle. The remains of the devil were small bloody chunks on the ground before it fades into nothing.

From behind Kituma was a similar demon type from mister blade hands. But his hands were not blades? The two got into a fist fight, but Kituma was better as he smacks with the sheath of Monjiro into its side heard cracking some of its bone with the strike before delivering a jab with the butt of the sheath into the demon's face. The devil steps back holding its face in pain from the blow. Kituma walks closer to it smug thinking how to end this demon's life. The demon did not like the idea of dying, so he forms his arm into a sword and stabs into Kituma face. But the fox catched the blade and stop it in its track with his teeth?! At this moment the demon knew he was fucked as Kituma slice then entire arm off the devil. It stepped back howling in pain before Kituma stabs Monjiro down into the demon's heart killing it.

He kicks the demon free from his blade before sheathing it. There was a few more coming, so the fight only just began. He heard something soaring through the air and only had enough to step back away from a bone made into an arrow hitting the ground in front of him. Kituma turns to face the demon with its right hand a fleshy crossbow and on its left shoulder spikes pierce its flesh, and with his left hand he rips one off as a new one grew back and place he ripped bone into the crossbow reloading it.

Kituma: Guess you got a boner to spare. But I'm interested in your sale.

Kituma finish what he was saying drawing his sword Monjiro launching a red energy slash. Aimed at crossbow demon was hiding but it leaped out of the way of the attack. While in the air Kituma launch aura blade at him as well. The devil avoids them as well leaping from tree to tree. While leaping through the air, he tried firing it at Kituma once more as he also jumps behind the fox. The bone shape arrow flew straight towards Kituma's neck. The fox caught it mere inches from his neck with ease. He saw from a glance behind him where the crossbow demon was going to land and knew what he was going to do next. When the devil landed and faced Kituma the bone shape arrow he fired at Kituma earlier flew and pierce into his neck. This cause the demon to cough blood as a waterfall of blood pour from the hole in his throat. Kituma dashes and swing his sword beheading the beast.

Kituma: I guess I was the head of this match.

He is smiling at his bad joke. He then heard clapping? Kituma turn and excepted Cinder was doing it due to him doing the same to him, but no it was not her. It was a demon similar to the other ones, but his horns were more deer like then demonic.

Demon: I must say I'm impressed that a mere human kills some of my best men. Guess I got to kill you myself.

His arms form into axes as the demon dashes towards Kituma. The fox dash as well with Monjiro drawn ready to fight him. Axe and Ōdachi clash and both match each other with Axe arms attacks and Kituma's defense. After blocking both of his ax arms and had his back to the demon and stab behind him piercing into the demon's chest. This cough the devil to cough blood but it was a not a demon so quickly kill. Kituma notices this and forcefully remove his blade from the demon's chest. And before the devil could dodge or do anything got both hands cut off by the fox. Kituma kicked him in the chest pinning the demon into the ground.

Kituma: So who hired you since you don't seem like the type to hold grudge or attack without reason?

Demon: Ares told us to get you. For Adam who hired him to do so.

Kituma: Where is Ares anyway?

Demon: In Atlas. The old base from the great war of this world.

Kituma: thank you are dismiss from duty.

And Kituma slice the demons head off its body as it rolled away before fading into nothing along with his body. Kituma knew where to go to deal with those demons Skull Knight mention to him earlier. He guesses they have plans for the white fang but what exactly? Also, he needed to know more about this old base the demon mention? And this gave Kituma an idea but it's too late to do it tonight so he will go back to sleep.

Unknown to him Cinder woke up and heard and saw him fighting demons. She knew something about it was unique, and she thought she got her answer. But tomorrow she tries to learn more about him before the two have to go their separate ways. So she quickly got back into sleeping position to make Kituma think she never was awake as he came in and try to fall asleep. And both slept the night away until the break of dawn of another day.

Both woke up and got dressed for the day which was the same clothing as yesterday, but Kituma wore brown pants with a yellow smiling face shirt on him. Cinder chuckle at him in his smiling face shirt which he did not mind. He helped her take down her tent and pack it up in a bag for her.

Cinder: thank you Kituma.

Kituma: You're welcome. But I best be going.

Cinder: I understand. But first here.

Cinder gave him a piece of paper with her scroll number so they can still be in touch. Kituma smiled and said he keeps in touch with her and gave Cinder his Scroll's number as well. both promise to keep in touch. and the two went their seperate ways. both on missions on their own.