Hello everyone!

Good to be back in the publishing biz finally! I hope y'all enjoy this story! It's a rewrite of one of my older ones!

for those who have read the first version: this isn't a TOTAL rewrite. I left quite a bit alone as you'll see. The reason being I REALLY liked what I wrote before, but I felt I could add more, plus a few things did need to be changed. More info will be given in my end A/N at the end of the 2nd chapter.

Please enjoy!

"And so, you are descended from greatness," Daitaru rattled on for the millionth time to his son.

"You are the latest in a line that comes directly from the very first of Inari's messengers," He continued. His back and forth pacing did little to hold Kyuubi's rapidly dwindling attention.

"The very spirit of the first kitsune is within you Kurama and it must be continued down for all eternity. And that, is why you need a mate." At that word Kyuubi was ready to skip out of his father's office entirely. A disappointing thought, he realized. For the age-old lecture of his history no longer motivated him to even consider taking on another suitor. Not that it ever motivated him in the first place, but it was at least a buffer and it lessened the overall intolerance he held for this situation.

But now? Kyuubi quietly sighed as he held his head in his hands, elbows on his knees. It wasn't a respectful sitting posture at all however, and he quickly straightened up and looked at his father before the youkai could comment on it. He tried his best to not glare directly at his father, but he was certain his father picked up his annoyance for he gave a sigh of his own and 'that' look.

"I just don't understand it Kurama. You brought a slew of respectable, potentially powerful suitors to this home and yet you still turned them all down. You don't think I wouldn't encourage you to get the ripest berry in the bush? For what reason did you have for your behavior? Explain it to me if you will. What about each of them turned you off?"

Oh so now his father wanted to hear his point of view? As if either of them had the patience for that! This lecture wouldn't be happening if they did, and to be honest, if Kyuubi were to be honest, he'd be in for a lot more than a lecture. But he needed to give an answer. Kyuubi looked down in thought and tried to condense his complaints but gave up trying to summarize all of them and instead boldly met his father's stare with an irritated one of his own.

"Does all of this have to matter right now? I mean I'm still just the heir aren't I? That won't change anytime soon and so I'd like to enjoy the rest of my-"

"HAVEN'T YOU BEEN LISTENING?!" His father roared, startling him into silence. Kyuubi tensed up even more when he saw the blaze behind his father's amber eyes.

"I don't know how many times we must go over this Kurama before it finally settles in your thick skull! The duties of a leader, whether you are officially ready for them or not, do not allow for certain privileges like 'waiting until the last minute'. They are demanding and always important! You cannot push them aside! Just ask your mother." At some point during this lecture Daitaru had started pacing back and forth again. His back was to Kyuubi and Kyuubi could see his posture turn rigid as he mentioned his mom. He said nothing as Daitaru's brief moment of weakness ended and he continued on with the talk Kyuubi saw fit to sneer at anyway.

"I know you want to enjoy the carefree time you have left as an heir. I know we all have long lives compared to other living beings. But you know what? That's just it! We have long lives and plenty of time. Plenty of time to cause mischief and chaos! Plenty of time to make mistakes that we could be spending the rest of our long lives fixing! As head of the clan you need to dedicate of lot of your time to ruling Kurama so that you can avoid these mistakes. The Kitsune have claimed these dry parts for centuries now and one wrong move could undo all of it. You won't have time to search for a mate once you takeover. Can you not understand that bit Kurama?!"

Daitaru looked back at him over his shoulder and Kyuubi only bowed his head and said nothing. Of course he understood what his father was saying. That's why most of his effort was spent prolonging this stupid search for a mate until Daitaru finally gave up on it. He heard his father sigh through his nose and just picked up on his movement to face him.

"Look Kurama, I was in the exact same position as you once. I understand what it is you are going through. But you should know by now what is required of you. As a zenko, you will hold your head up high and stop avoiding this responsibility before it is too late. You should be...wise enough by now. But because I have yet to see it, I will take matters into my own hands. I've contacted an old acquaintance of our clan who has a son of close age to you. You still remember Namikaze Minato don't you?"

Now that got his attention. All eight of Kyuubi's tails fanned out behind him and his ears pointed straight up in shock and he seriously wondered if father was more fucked in the head than he thought.

"The Namikaze?! Are you mad?!" Pure disgust coated his voice. "He's a ya-"

"Silence your disrespectful talk Kurama! Minato-kun has agreed that for sake of a cordial relationship between us again, his son will enter a courtship with you. You will meet this boy next week, you will court him respectfully, and you will mate with him at the end. Unless you can find someone else between now and the next red moon, there will be no other options."

"I-"

"Do not argue with me on this matter. Do I make myself clear Kurama?"

Kyuubi gritted his teeth and bowed his head before mumbling, "yes sir."

"Good. Now go do something. You are dismissed."

Kyuubi stood up from the floor and did a short, almost mocking bow before quickly leaving the room. He nearly slammed the door shut but only just managed to keep his anger contained. However he couldn't stop himself from running full speed to the training grounds. He needed to let off some steam.

It was a quarter past 3AM and Kyuubi was still awake. He was sitting on a bench on the third floor balcony, head resting on his arms as he stared out at the nighttime scene but not really watching the dust blow across the land and the flames on the torches on the back gate dance in the wind.

His mind was still preoccupied. He hasn't seen his father since their little meeting earlier, but that could be because the head had been too busy dealing with the aftermath of Kyuubi's 'temper tantrum' as the old fox called it. But with 9 training grounds to restore and several bathhouses to rebuild, Kyuubi could understand why his father was so preoccupied. He was going to hear from his father tomorrow and he couldn't help but let out a wry chuckle. How strange he would welcome a 'do not destroy my property' lecture for once. Because that was like frolicking through a breeze compared to the bullcrap he heard earlier.

He still found it hard to believe that his father did this. It was preposterous. Maddening. Completely unacceptable!

In a society where more power meant more control, Kyuubi would think he'd have more of a say against his father. But number of tails could never overrule the one rule that's been around since…forever really.

What daddy says, goes.

And in a clan like his, that rule was doubly so. Kyuubi let out a heavy sigh. In a week he would meet his intended. In the next three months they would be practically attached to the hip for the courtship period. And then finally, on the second Monday in October, they would be bound together for the rest of their very long lives.

Damn. It. All.

Kyuubi didn't desire a lifelong partner or kids. He didn't want a clan, or treaties to write, or lands to make rules for. His ultimate choice did not lie in the cushy estate that kept him guarded while he was maturing, but out in the world where he could find what he truly desired: tests to his power.

He will be the strongest. Stronger than any youkai has ever been before and that was none more evident than by the tails on his backside. Kurama may be his birth name, but he was also called 'Kyuubi' for a reason. At eight-tails he was that close to finally fulfilling his namesake. It was his destiny to do so. All just so long as he could come back and sleep and eat whenever he desired.

But his father only agreed on the destiny-nine-tails part, not so much anything else. Being old enough, grown enough, powerful enough to leave did not mean he necessarily could. His old man could spin a wicked threat about abandoning the clan home and turn a dream into a potential nightmare. Disowning him? Fine. But banishing him from these parts 'until forgiven'? He would actually miss the members of his family! And Kyuubi liked his home too much to never be able to come back. The temptation to travel could not outweigh the despair of losing the feel of soft sand beneath and a warm sun above.

And so Kyuubi hoped, if he could just stall for time until he became the nine-tails that his father once so proudly watched him train for, he would have a little more arguing power. Nine-tails were just the most powerful. No one in any arm or leg or head of youkai society argued with a nine-tails….No one has really seen a nine-tails in the past 1000 years, but that's why his nickname carried so much weight. He was going to obtain that high level of power…and then he was going to obtain the ultimate level of power.

Ten tails.

According to the stories there had only been one. It was a being so powerful, that it could bring total despair and ruin to the world. Multiple rumors sprung up around the nearly mythical beast; about how it could destroy mountains and raise tsunamis with the flick of its claw. A being of such power, that it was respected and feared by all.

So it was such a shame that it disappeared a long time ago. In fact, his father said that it disappeared shortly before Kyuubi was conceived.

Aside from the horrible mental image that gave him, Kyuubi was greatly upset when he found out he may never get to meet the greatest youkai that ever lived. But he comforted himself with the knowledge that he will one day become a Juubi, and perhaps even become a better Juubi than the previous one.

In moments or days of sheer frustration, it was always that knowledge that could relax him. And although his father wasn't aware of his great ambition, the thought of Kyuubi becoming a nine-tails used to excite him too. Until that whole mess with his mother. Now it's nothing but 'find a mate! Have kits! Prepare for your duty as head of the clan!' bullcrap day in and day out.

Kyuubi scowled. Damn it all.

"You know, you shouldn't frown so much; it causes really bad wrinkles you know! I like it when you smile more!" A waaay-too-happy voice said from behind him. Kyuubi wasn't surprised when Obi—er Tobi Uchiha walked up and stood beside him. He smelled his friend the moment he entered the Kitsune estate.

"I believe I have every reason to frown. You would too if you were in my situation," Kyuubi said, giving his companion a glance. He almost sounded like he was sulking, but that would be beneath him. The black cat youkai beside him laughed, his cat ears flicking just a tiny bit.

"Is your father giving you grief about finding a mate again? Boy it's been the same old story with you for a while now."

"Yeah well it's about to end. He's at the end of his rope now."

"Really? What's he done?" Tobi sounded too amused for Kyuubi's liking. That's why it gave him a tiny bit of pleasure to tell him these next words.

"My father has finally taken the situation out of my hands and into his own. He went to speak to 'an old friend of his' and in one week I will meet my future mate," Kyuubi explained.

"WHAT!?" Kyuubi was pleased to see Tobi's shocked and slightly angry face. That's what he got for laughing at his problem. Tobi used to have the funniest reactions to news about Kyuubi's love life. He always got so angry, ranting and raving to anyone in earshot about something that to be honest, had nothing to do with him. But as Kyuubi rejected more and more suitors angry shouting turned to loud guffawing and that wasn't as fun. The return of piss-myself angry Tobi was incredibly satisfying to watch.

"Are you kidding me?! You're joking right?! Pulling my tail?! Pulling a prank?! I mean no way-" Tobi started but Kyuubi interrupted him.

"Nope! Father left no room for argument. The one who I'm meeting has to be the one and there is no 'or else'."

"That's some bullshit! Why do clan head's always have to control everything?! That's not fair to-you!" At that last sentence Tobi's voice sounded strangely strained to Kyuubi. As if this situation caused him a lot more grief than it was supposed to. Kyuubi had his suspicions but he wasn't about to bring them up.

"Do you even know anything about this future mate of yours?! Does Daitaru know?! What if they're just agreeing to this for your power?! Your strength?! Your status and riches?!" Tobi asked. Kyuubi ignored the anger-jealousy-brimming in Tobi's voice and looked up at the stars.

"Calm down, my father knows to choose better than that. I don't know too much. He's a boy. A little younger than me. Annnnd that's all I know," Kyuubi answered with a shrug, taking extra care to keep the bitterness out of his tone. He didn't want to mention that said boy was the spawn of Kushina and Minato. That would just anger him again and he had nothing else left to destroy. But damn even the thought was getting him heated as the metal rail of the balcony started to crumble under his hands. He quickly let go of it in favor of clenching his fists.

"I see," Tobi seethed. "A male huh? What a joke!"

"I just hope he's not annoying. I hope he's more…tame and shuts up when I tell him to, like you Tobi! I refused to yield to anyone," The red-haired Kitsune teased. It was a half-hearted attempt to start an argument as Tobi would hilariously argue against Kyuubi labeling him anything resembling 'submissive'. The aghast expression on his face had him going for a second, but Tobi went on a completely different track.

"You-You're actually going to accept this?! What happened to controlling your own life!? Your goals, dreams, and ambitions?! How are you gonna walk away when tied down to this estate!?"

"Nothing's happened yet!" Kyuubi snapped to the ridiculous assumption. "Of course I'm going to put an end to this! It's just frustrating that he left very little room for me to argue is all," he huffed.

"Well, I can think of some way you can get out of this," Tobi said hurriedly, a furious, yet thoughtful, expression appearing on his face. Kyuubi bit his tongue to keep from laughing. Tobi doesn't think. He just flounders around until he stumbles upon some happy coincidence. But who was he to stop the guy from trying to help him out? At least he almost made him laugh and it was more than what some others do. Kyuubi could appreciate that even if he couldn't appreciate Tobi's possible true intentions. But if nothing else, Tobi could be of use if Kyuubi does the planning. Maybe he could distract his father in some kind of way…

"Father did say that if I find someone else I am truly happy with he'll drop the whole thing. That's the only out he gave so we'll have to plan around that too..."

The first thing that came to mind was using Tobi to bring his grandfather back from the dead to talk, or knock, some sense into Daitaru. But the problems with that were the facts that 1, Tobi was only a bakeneko—a one tailed cat—and they could only raise fresh corpses and 2, neither bakenekos nor nekomatas—cats with more than one tail—could bring personalities or spirits back from the dead. Just bodies and if it were the shock alone that could affect Daitaru this would help but…and even so maybe that plan went just a little too far…

"What's so hard about finding someone your happy with?" the Uchiha asked in a quiet voice, shocking Kyuubi out of his thoughts. Kyuubi really didn't want to go down this conversational path. He really didn't.

"Well for starters I haven't really been trying," Kyuubi snorted. "And if I lost my head and decided to, what makes you think I can find someone in just three months?"

Tobi remained silent.

"I don't even want a mate," Kyuubi said. Tobi was still silent beside him for a looong minute before the black-haired cat youkai finally sighed.

"For what it's worth, I think you are capable of falling in love with someone Kyuubi. Maybe you just need to spend a little more time with that someone. And since you really don't want to meet with this youkai or fall in love with anyone else then maybe…someone you've known for a while could work?"

"Probably not," Kyuubi growled out. Tobi surprisingly wasn't deterred.

"All I'm saying is…my uncle wants all purebred Uchiha to find 'suitable' mates too. And he's a little preoccupied now but at some point he'll notice me. So perhaps…maybe…to put out that fire before it starts…we could…" He gestured between them.

At Kyuubi's look Tobi stopped and quickly added, "It's just a suggestion."

Kyuubi looked away in thought. He had always suspected Tobi's feelings went beyond what he said they were. They had been friends for the past one hundred years and Kyuubi could admit he enjoyed Tobi's company.

But…

Kyuubi had never, not once, thought of him in that way. He had always been eager to show up and eager to please and it was for those reasons he proved to be dependable in any kind of situation. Tobi was also strangely sympathetic to a lot of what Kyuubi went through and it was for that reason why Kyuubi went to Tobi the most to complain about this crap. While his other friends were no help at all, at least Tobi could be counted on to listen and tell him he's right to be upset.

But it looked like Kyuubi underestimated Tobi's feelings.

"I'll have to talk to my father about it," he finally said and he could feel the excitement coming off of Tobi before he started clapping his hands.

"Okay then. Let me know how it goes okay?" Tobi smiled and put his hand on Kyuubi's shoulder. Kyuubi didn't return the smile or even look at his friend. All he could do was tense slightly under the hand that was on his shoulder for a couple of seconds longer than it should've been. Finally Tobi left, leaving Kyuubi alone on the balcony.

He sighed, fox ears and tails lowering. He was really beginning to get a headache from all of this.

Hope you liked it! Onward!