Chapter 24

Kitsune has been staying out of this for some time, and for good reason. She has gone back to her duties as messenger and was quickly put to work. Mainly she had to distract the other dragons of Lady Tiamat's absence.

Various suitors have come to approach her, however they are stopped at the door by one of her uncles. He refuses to let anyone in and has assured them, Lady Tiamat is quite busy.

"Then why hasn't she shown herself?!" the dragon demanded. "Quite frankly, I don't think she is even here…"

"Lady Tiamat is here!" came the voice of Kitsune. She came out from the chamber doors. "Why else would I be here? I was summoned!"

The dragon sneered. "Then let me speak with her!" he demanded.

"She is in no mood to meet with suitors right now, in fact, she is going to be departing shortly to get something to eat… it's been a while since she has fed. I would not wish to disrupt her if she is going to feed." She said in a warning tone.

The dragon froze but then nodded to her. "Very well then, tell her that the suitors are getting impatient!" he scolded, when the dragon took off. Kitsune sighed aloud as she went back into the chamber. Lady Tiamat lives in a rather extravagant cave; outside it looks like nothing more than an eyesore. Yet within, it's lavishing like a palace. When Kitsune entered, she turned as her uncle followed suit.

"They keep coming, they are aware something has happened to Lady Tiamat. She has been gone for a year."

Kitsune nodded "I know, I am not sure as to where she went to. I cannot sense her when she does not want to be found…"

Her uncle nodded. "She has really been keeping this a secret to say the least. To not even tell us of her departure or where she is… Makes me worry for what she has done."

Kitsune didn't know what to think. After all, Lady Tiamat does what she believes is best for all, not just herself. Before she could speak, she felt it. A powerful summoning has just been called, and they called for her. "You better hurry"

She nodded and vanished.

Kitsune came to a castle of all places, she fazed through the doors until she found the main throne room. There, a rather giant of a man sat and glared at her. She despised him so. "Kitsune… where is my niece?" he demanded of her.

"Which one sir, you have many." She replied.

The room trembled. "Don't play stupid, fox! Only one has survived! Where is Tiamat!" he demanded.

"In her chambers, she left to feed, why do you ask of me, when she is your niece?" she demanded. "I am to deliver messages, I am not a baby sitter."

He appeared taken aback by her tone. "You dare speak to me in such a way!" he roared.

Kitsune lowered her gaze. "I am sorry, it was not intentional…" she muttered. She has been on edge ever since Yuuji Itadori died. There was nothing she could have done to save him, at the same time. She felt as if she had done nothing but fail him time and time again. "But Lady Tiamat has gone to feed. I must continue my duties, may I please be excused?" she asked as gently and humble as she could.

He sneered at her. "When you see her again, tell her that we are meeting here in three weeks! She better attend…" he said in a warning tone.

Kitsune bowed before taking her leave. She returned to Lady Tiamat's cave where she confronted her uncle. "Where has she gone? I have to give her a message from her uncle. They are meeting in three weeks and he wants her there."

Her uncle froze. "No… she can't show herself yet!" he protested.

"You know where she is?"

He froze. Her uncle gulped his pride but nodded to her. "Yes," he whispered meekly.

"Where? I have to give her this message!" she pleaded.

He sighed aloud and explained that she had gone to earth realm. She hasn't been back since and that was a little over a year ago. "She only returned here the moment she explained to those who wished to see the destruction of Yuuji and Suiryu Itadori" he said. "They confronted her about it before, stating that it was a rule, if they were not born a dragon, they cannot become or take the name of one. They were ordered to be destroyed and Lady Tiamat took matters into her own hands. Stating it was her doing, she would fix it."

Kitsune froze, she was rightfully confused at this point. "How is that possible? Young master and Suiryu were dying before. I was there when I was told they won't survive and was relieved of my duties!" she protested.

"But who told you?"

She paused to think, Lady Tiamat told her she was no longer needed for that reason! "Could she still be with them?" she wondered. Kitsune hasn't sensed her young master at all, nor has she sensed or smelt Suiryu, despite his scent changing. Still, she had to see for herself.

"Please excuse me Uncle, I am going to investigate this."

"Tread carefully," he said in a warning tone.

But she knew the first place to go. She returned to young master's hidden village. Yet the moment she arrived, memories came back to her.

She brought Lady Tiamat here herself! Then, how could she have forgotten this place, let alone her location? 'Binding vow?' she thought, but moved along. She had to find lady Tiamat.

#

"Lady Tiamat, is everything okay?"

Choso has been glued to her side as of late. He has been overly attentive but it was to be expected. She smiled and said. "I'm fine, I just feel a little weak today… I think they figured out they had to take some of my own energy to spark their own. That happened a while ago, but it is hitting me now…"

"I will make sure they apologize for such actions…"

She laughed. "Oh no, don't. This had to happen, they didn't take very much from me, which was surprising. Yet at the same time I just feel tired. They are getting bigger, stronger…" she said as her hands stroked down her sides. She smiled as she felt movement. "It's almost as if they know what is really going on now… I can't explain it…"

Choso merely nodded until he suddenly snapped to his feet and stood at the ready to attack. Yet, his guard began to lower. "I haven't seen you in a while."

She tried to peer off to the side to see, but couldn't. Her baby belly was just too big! But she sensed a familiar presence. "Kitsune…" she said gently.

Kitsune came to her side. "Great one… why did you have me forget you were here?" she asked.

"I'm sorry, but it was necessary… how did you find me? Why are you here?" she asked.

She appeared rather distraught. "I… came to deliver a message from your uncle. He is calling for a meeting in a few weeks… and he is insisting you appear."

Tiamat sighed aloud with frustration. "He knows, doesn't he?" she muttered.

"I think he suspects something, but doesn't know about your current condition… strange, I thought you would have given birth by now…" she said offhandedly.

"Well, this is a special case," she insisted, but didn't explain any farther. "Well, I will be there. I don't have much choice in the matter… I don't even know why he makes me attend these damn things. If anything, he is probably just flaunting his power over the others. I have to sit there and be silent, not say ANYTHING. I can't even turn into my true form!" she protested.

"Then, why go?" asked Choso. "It appears there is no respect for you Lady Tiamat. If that is the case, why go at all?"

She sighed aloud. "Part of the contract I have with my uncle. I have to be there in case he wishes to alter his own rules or makes an attempt on my territory." She fell silent. "That's the price I pay to ensure that nothing gets out of hand."

Choso appeared curious. "I thought the dragons use to live in this world, but were killed…" he said offhandedly.

Kitsune sighed. "That's part of the story. The other part is this, there were male dragons that continued to try and force their way on human women. Lady Tiamat had to step in and make them stop. Many refused. So she claimed this world as her territory, she made rules and forced them to obey or be banished. Many took the banishment, refusing to believe Lady Tiamat had stake the world as her own. Her uncle took it as an opportunity. And made a slimy deal with her. She could keep the earth and ruled as she liked, in return, he gained the heavenly realm. She agreed to it, but that's when matters began to change."

"Humans started hunting dragons," said Choso.

Tiamat was stunned. "How did you guess?"

"It appeared it was part of his plan, wasn't it?" he asked gently of her. "Lady Tiamat, it sounds to me that the notion of slaying a dragon… was given to the humans, wasn't it. Not many would dare to do such a thing unless there was something worth killing them for."

She was surprised by his insight, but her head nodded to him. "It's why the dragons all left this world. The moment humans figured out a way to kill them, they fled to the heavenly realm. As such, when I returned. My uncle ruled over them with an iron fist. Proudly stating, since I didn't protect them, he would." She sneered at the thought of it all. "He punished me for such actions. I never realized how strong his hold was on the heavenly realm. The dragons listened to him whole-heartedly and without argument. My punishment was when he holds meetings, I do no speak, and I sit and listen in silence and hold my tongue. I cannot turn into my true form during those meeting either… I am hardly able to do so when I return home anyways…"

"You are more than welcome to remain here," Choso insisted. "After all…"

"It's okay, I am rather use to it. Besides. I need to make certain there aren't any dragons that dare to refuse my will. I happily accept and endure what I must to keep this world safe." She said gently.

"Still, great one. What will happen if your uncle sees you in this condition? As well, he would wish to meet the male who you had relations with."

Tiamat smiled. "How am I suppose to answer him when I am forced to be silent?" she asked.

Choso gave a half smile to it all. "Be that as it may, Lady Tiamat, please, if you wish to stay, my brothers and I would be more than happy to tend to you. As well, it appears the one named Toji has quite the feelings for you. He's rather angry that I am at your side more often than not."

"Toji? The human?" Kitsune asked but then snickered. "Why would a mere human be interested…"

"AHEM!" Tiamat said aloud as she glared at Kitsune. She was quick to silence herself. "Human or not, that male has treated me far better than any dragon would have. As well… I do see potential in him… I am curious myself."

Kitsune froze. "You would mate with a male human?" she whispered.

"Why not?" she asked. "Quite frankly, my rule is only in place to prevent a dragon from forcing themselves onto another. If it's consensual from both parties, it's not breaking the rule."

Kitsune nodded, but then she appeared hesitant. "Great one… that other rule… one cannot be called a dragon unless they are born from one… did that apply to young master? I mean… he didn't seek out that power… It was to save his life. Ryujin never would have…"

"Kitsune, that was a rule I myself made… out of anger against the males who had forced themselves on human women. They were hoping to breed a hybrid of some sort, I don't even remember their reasoning anymore. But, that rule still stood. And I had to abide by it too, for I made it. I cannot change it once it's put into place and has stood over 10000 years. Yet, Yuuji was dying anyways, so was Suiryu. Their bodies couldn't handle it. Perhaps that's the reason why I made such a rule… Oh… and the women who were forced upon, they died in child birth because of it."

"I see…" Kitsune whispered. "I do miss my young master… Suiryu… hmm, it's strange. I never liked him before and yet… after that encounter with Sukuna… I truly saw who he really was. Such a shame he stunk of him still, I couldn't get beyond that."

"Stunk of him?" Choso asked.

"Kitsune has a very sensitive nose, if she smells your scent, it's stuck in her mind forever. Suiryu had Sukuna's scent for most of his life until the end."

The fox woman shuttered. "Ugh, it was terrible, he reeked!" she protested. "Sukuna is the most fowl smelling being in all the world. I have yet to come across another who was as pungent as him…"

"Apparently my brother was," muttered Choso. "I can understand one cannot change who they are, no matter how hard they try. Especially when it is beyond their control" he said gently.

Kitsune paused, but nodded. "I am sorry for my words, Suiryu… was not Sukuna, and I never should have held it over his head in such a way,"

Choso and Tiamat nodded simultaneously. "About time you said something," Choso muttered.

"I heard that, cursed human," she snapped back.

Tiamat giggled as she slowly eased herself up. She has grown out a little more but it's been a very slow process. "I thought I had eaten enough, but these two are stubborn!"

"High metabolisms" Choso said instantly. But then fell silent much to Tiamat relief.

Kitsune however was a little confused but didn't question it.