Chapter 2: Exploring the World
The next morning dawned bright and fair the morning air was chilly and outside everything was covered in dew. Yukina slowly opened her eyes and looked to the side of her where the fox kit was curled up in a tiny ball. She slowly patted the fox's head and got up making sure to cover the fox in a blanket before heading towards the kitchen. Genkai was eating slowly a bowl of cereal and reading a novel. She looked up when Yukina entered the kitchen, "How's the fox kit?" she asked as Yukina brought out a small pan like bowl and a carton of milk.
"The fox kit is fine and I'm very happy that you let the kit stay Genkai," she said softly as she poured some milk into the bowl. Genkai smiled, "Who could've resisted the fox kit? She is very powerful even for her early age."
"You know how old the fox kit is?" asked Yukina her eyes filled with surprise. Genkai nodded slowly, "No, not really, but she must be young in order for her not to change into her human form." Yukina smiled, "I see maybe when she grows up she will turn into her human form and tell us who she is."
Yukina picked the bowl up carefully and headed back to her room. When she opened the door and fox kit was awake and playing with a strand of loose thread on the blanket. The fox turned when it heard the door creak open and it bounded towards Yukina yipping happily. Yukina couldn't help the smile that appeared on her face as she set the bowl down on the ground. The fox kit happily licked up the milk watching Yukina with appreciative eyes. Ever since last night the fox had been very tame. When it woke up it struggled a bit and growled warningly at Yukina and Genkai. It bit Yukina's finger once, but after they offered it some milk and said soothing kind words the fox kit softened a bit and later on licked Yukina's finger apologetically. Yukina watched the fox lapped up the milk happily and it turned to Yukina after it was done licking some of its whiskers to clean her face of milk. Picking up the bowl Yukina walked out of the room followed by the fox kit that bounded gracefully after Yukina. They both came back in the kitchen and Genkai was still there finishing up her breakfast. The kitsune bounded over to Genkai and rubbed its head against Genkai's leg like a cat. Genkai smiled and patted the silver fox's head soothingly. The fox purred softly and kept rubbing its face against Genkai's leg. "What are you going to name it?" asked Genkai to Yukina. Yukina paused thoughtfully as she washed the bowl cleaned with a soapy cloth. "I'm not to sure, what would you name it?" asked Yukina as she picked up Genkai's bowl who silently thanked her as she began washing it.
"How about Shinrai?" Genkai asked. Yukina looked puzzled, "Trust?"
"Yes, she was very trustful in us so it sort of matches," said Genkai slowly. Yukina smiled, "I liked that name. Okay from now on she shall be called Shinrai." Shinrai looked up at them with trustful amber eyes. However they didn't notice the flicker of sadness that appeared in her amber eyes. "C'mon Shinrai," said Yukina happily. Shinrai looked up at Yukina and followed her outside. "We're going to visit Yusuke and Keiko at the ramen shop would you like to come, Genkai?"
"No you go on ahead," called Genkai from the door. Yukina smiled and so she and Shinrai headed towards the ramen shop in town. As soon as they neared the edge of the city Yukina turned towards Shinrai, "Okay I'm going to put you into this bag so as not to draw suspicion from the humans. Nobody knows about foxes with nine tails so please keep them hidden okay?" Shinrai turned to Yukina and jumped into the bag Yukina held open for her. Yukina smiled and they headed into the city. Shinrai curiously stuck her head out of the bag watching people strolling by. Her ears twitched to and fro catching various sounds and Shinrai's sensitive nose picked different kinds of smells. People who passed by them smiled at the fox kit and Yukina let some teenage girls pet Shinrai. Finally they stopped at a busy restaurant and Yukina slowly walked inside. Keiko spotted them and walked over, "Hi Yukina what are you doing here?" Keiko stooped down and slowly stroked the fox kit's head smiling when the kitsune purred in response. "I'm just stopping by to visit. I thought Yusuke was supposed to be here too," said Yukina looking around for Yusuke.
"If you're looking for Yusuke he's probably out loitering somewhere," muttered Keiko as she turned back to her cooking filling the orders of her customers.
"So, did you name it anything?" asked Keiko.
"Yes, Genkai and I have decided to name it Shinrai."
"…Trust?" asked Keiko as she turned around to look at Yukina. Yukina nodded, "Yes, she was very trustful of us so we decided it was a good name." Keiko nodded in agreement, "Shinrai is a beautiful name." Yukina smiled, "Arigato Keiko, I shall go and visit Yusuke." Keiko waved good-bye and Yukina walked out of the restaurant smiling. Shinrai yawned tiredly and looked around with concealed interest. "Don't worry Shinrai we'll just visit Yusuke and then go back home," said Yukina reassuringly. She patted Shinrai's head softly and Shinrai snuggled closer to Yukina. Yukina walked around looking for Yusuke checking at the movies and then at the mall, but he was nowhere to be seen. "Hm, maybe he is on a mission?" said Yukina as she looked around. Yukina smiled and headed towards Genkai's temple, "I suppose we should head back," murmured Yukina as she looked at Shinrai. Shinrai, however, was fast asleep.