I Got Reincarnated! - Kitsune Chronicles
~Chapter 6~ Finding Destiny
"Owww~." Kayo groaned as she felt throbbing pain in her head as she woke up. Blinking helped to clear the blurriness, but she found herself surrounded by familiar stone walls, only instead of iron bars, there was a thick iron door with two slots built into it. One near the ground for food and the other for looking into the odd cell. 'I don't like the looks of this... did those elves send me here?' Kayo questioned as she looked around, she still had on the clothes they gave her, but her wrists were in tight shackles connected to iron chains that bolted into the cold stone walls. She tried to move her tails but yelped in slight pain as it seemed something was restraining her tails.
'Fuck! This isn't good. Why did they send me here? An auction? Questioning?' Kayo gulped at the thought of being auctioned off because she was a 3 tailed Kitsune or being questioned like a POW.
'Will big brother be able to find me?' she questioned as she thought of the slime and tried to reach out to him only to feel like she got slapped in the face. "Owie~." she whined with ears pressed to her head in pain from the odd recoil. 'Do they have magic seals on this place or something?' she questioned as she tried to stand up. She could at least do that and lean on the wall, her body stiff from being still for an unknown amount of time. Looking around she saw no window to help tell the time and no light came from anywhere around the thick door.
Only the sound of her panicked heart beating was heard in this strange dark place.
"Why am I here?" she asked out loud, only to jump when the sound of a heavy latch moving caught her attention... and the door opened to let in a large man. The fox child blinked as she tried to look at the man who was coming into her cell, the hair on the back of her neck standing up as a chill ran threw her body. Golden eyes wide open as they looked at the large tan skinned man with a golden crown on his forehead, fitted with armor that reeked of blood of both humans and monsters.
The little fox gulped nervously as she tried to process this man's appearance and his smell, but the smell of dirt, blood and oil was too strong on him.
"Kitsune, do you know why you are here?" the man asked as he took in the appearance of the young fox, blue eyes observing her for any tricks of lies. "Um... Not really." She told him honestly, shrugging. 'I'm guessing I'm being questioned but... That thing on his head?' She was thinking as she glanced up at the golden crown on his head.
'It can't be... is this the Hero king Rigur was talking about?'
"Do you know where you are?" The man asked her as his expression didn't change.
"The... Armed Nation of Dwargon, right?" She responded but was unsure if she was still in the city. 'Whatever they used on me couldn't have knocked me out for more than a few hours.' She was thinking and moved, only to cough from how dry the chemical used on her was.
"Here."
Kayo blinked as she looked at the man who was now holding out a glass of water out to her. She looked up at him and moved her arms. "Thank you, but I can't take it." she mentioned and looked towards her arms, only to stiffen as her chin was grabbed and she was forced to face the scowling man who brought the glass to her mouth.
"Open." He pretty much commanded her.
Kayo glanced at the water and then at the scarry looking man who smelled like blood.
'Would it be safer if I don't drink it?' she was thinking and felt the man's grip on her chin tighten. 'It won't be the first time a grown man has hit me... I wish I could keep my teeth though.' She flinched as her chin was jerked up, and she saw the man take a sip of the glass.
"It's not poisoned, now drink." He was being stern as the glass was pressed to her lips, Kayo was still unsure and scared of this man but opened her lips to drink the water slowly. The taste of a crip clean water ran over her tongue, nothing seemed odd about it at the time.
"Good Child, now what is your name?" The man asked as he set the glass on a table that was hidden in the darkness of the room. "Kayo Tempest." She told him, not sure if she should have told him her name. 'Are kitsunes monsters? Is it bad for one to have a name?' she questioned as the man pulled out something from his armor and reached for her.
Kayo closed her eyes and prepared to be struck but instead she felt her arms be released from their cuffs.
"Huh?" She looked at the man in confusion and then as her hands. 'Why is he letting me go? Is this so I can be more amusing if I'm hunted down?' She questioned, very confused by the blood-soaked man. "Thank you?" she said to him unsurely and backed away when she saw his hand reach for her. "Come with me Miss Tempest. I have a few more questions for you." he told her and opened the door, two guards where outside from what Kayo could see, btu she could smell a few more people watching them.
'I don't even know your name, digus.' She though with a bit of annoyance and fear of who this man might be. "Um, Sir... it's rude not to give your name in return." Kayo mentioned, pushing a little in hopes she could confirm who this man was as he turned to look at her, his red cape clearly stained with blood in the dim fire light of the prison they threw her in.
She heard him give a deep chuckle before his blue eyes locked onto her.
"Ah. Forgive me Miss Tempest. My name is Gazel Dwargo." He told her with a small smirk and Kayo couldn't; help but be confused and scared.
'Oh fuck! It is the king! What does he want with me?' She was thinking, still rooted in place before her stomach protested its emptiness loudly. "Oh? Is the little Kitsune hungry?" King Dawrgo asked, amused as he saw the fox child blush as she wrapped her arms around her stomach. 'Danm it! They took me before I could eat anything! Those Basterds!' She whined and thought of a roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, ham, and warm gravy that she had prepared for her old family's last Thanksgiving meal.
"Have the cooks prepare a turkey dinner for me and Miss Tempest here." King Dwargo told one of the guards, Kayo couldn't see their reaction with their helpmate on but the hesitation in saluting the king was confusion before they left to the kitchens. 'Weird, I was craving turkey. Well, it's bound to be more filling than the Potato soup Captain Kaidou gave us. It was pretty bland and needed a bit of salt... maybe some pepper too.' She thought with a tilt of her head, but she didn't take a step towards the door as she was still unsure about the king's motives.
"Are you coming? Unless you would rather have potato soup, Miss Tempest." The king mussed and Kayo was a bit startled but carefully walked up to him, eyeing the remaining guard and tossing a glance at the ones that stayed in the shadows. 'Why would he mention potato soup?' she questioned as she followed the man, nearly running to keep up with his much longer legs. Slowly but surely the halls turned form cold dark stone to the cream-colored walls of a castle fit for a king.
Kayo looked in awe of it all, admiring most of the metal work as well as the armors and weapons that lined some of the halls. 'That should make battling intruders fun and fair. Then again, these look like they're made for- Holy Crap!' She was shocked as she ran a curious finger over the blade that a displayed suit of armor held, having run her finger across it and seen it easily cut threw her flesh.
"Miss Tempest, if you don't mind not injuring yourself on my blades." The king warned her, and she quickly pulled her hands away. "Sorry. Where are we going?" Kayo asked him as he chuckled and continued to walk, Kayo bouncing along to just keep up. "The dining room, do you drink wine, Miss Tempest?" He asked and Kayo was unsure before she opened her mouth.
'If we are having Turkey, Apple cider would go great with it. I always find them a bit dry.'
"Hmm. Not a bad choice." The King mussed as he glanced down at her... and chuckled.
'I knew it!' Kayo realized as no sound had come out of her mouth, and the king was very amused by her little trick.
"Yes, little fox, I can read your mind... but now that you know..." he trailed off as Kayo stopped a few feet from him. 'Are you going to have me killed? I can keep a secret.' she questioned but then raised some walls around her other thoughts in attempt to keep the powerful King out of her head, for his safety... and her own.
"You can try Miss Tempest. Come and sit down, I just need to clean up before we can talk further. Didn't mean to smell like blood to you." he said and opened the doors to a very small dining room, maybe fit for 6 people. He went over and pulled out a chair for the little fox child who came to sit there and was given some juice by a butler looking man.
"Take care of our guest until I return." he ordered the butler who understood, Kayo only took the glass of amber liquid curiously and drank it. "It's apple cider!" she yelled in her shock as she happily drank it up, isolated from what was going on with her brother who was back in that jail cell with Kaijin and the 3-dwarf brothers.
~Next~
'What are you going to do to my brother and the others?' Kayo thought/asked the King, as she was eating a nice breakfast of eggs, turkey and toast. "You could just ask me." The king mussed as he saw the little child happily enjoying the food in front of her, having seen her clean her plate at dinner several times last night.
'Isn't that what I did? It's rude to talk with your mouth full and their trial is in a bit. Man, I wish I could have decked that guy too.' Kayo was thinking as she swallowed her food and happily drank the glass of milk eagerly as the butler chuckled when he saw it empty and refilled it for her. "My, you have some appetite for such a small thing." he mused, and Kayo blushed a little. "I'm still growing. I wanna be useful to my big bother!" she told the butler who found it adorable and even gave her head a pat.
"Don't you want to take over the village and lead it one day?" The king asked as he drank from his goblet, testing the little fox as she hadn't tried to steal anything after they gave her a very nice guest room to sleep in for the night. 'Nope, too much work. If anything, I want my own harem of sexy and talented men and women.' Kayo thought and the king spit out his drink and started laughing loudly. 'What's so funny?' Kayo thought, a bit annoyed as she looked at the king who set down his drink and cleaned up before he spoke.
"It's Nothing. You just wish to be useful and loved then? That is a noble pursuit, especially for a kitsune." He mussed and Kayo blushed, raising her walls as she had not mentioned anything about love, yet he somehow knew. "I'm sure there is a Lad or Lady out there for you. Now finish up and come with me." he told her as he finished off his food and Kayo was a bit surprised and curious as she eagerly ate what was left on her plate and gulped down all the milk.
"Thank you! That was so good~!" Kayo told the butler, almost purring form her now full stomach, her tails happily waging freely much to the amusement of the butler.
'You mean I'm coming with you to their trail?' Kayo questioned as she hopped after King Dwargo who was back in his now clean armor, Kayo was not scared of him as he smelled like a mountain... a whole mountain with pine trees, dirt, stone, spring water, and metal.
"Yes, but I would advise you not to speak, or act on any actions against my people. I would hate to banish you little one." He mussed as he saw her hop and bounce next to him to keep up, seeing that she had hidden her other two tails. 'Should I be in my fox form then?' Kayo questioned before he interrupted her thinking of sneaking into the shadows. "No. I want you in my sites threw the whole trial. Or else your brother's fate will be more serious." he warned her, but Kayo rolled her eyes. 'Like you would really do that after he gave Ya'll that healing liquid. Hey! Wanna make a bet the minster will be wearing lots of fake bandages?'
Kayo thought with interest as the king chuckled. "There is that kitsune sprit. Alright. If he's wearing some after he took your brother's healing potion, I will give you a prize... of anything you like." he told her, and Kayo stopped in shock as he said that.
'Anything?' she questioned; her mind went to those beautiful, winged horses the king had shown her before he reached the doors to the court room, some strange horns went off.
"His Majesty Gazel Dwargo will now enter!" A man announced as she continued to follow him into the court room. Many bowing to the king as Kayo realized something. 'Am I supposed to bow too?' she questioned while the King took his seat, and she came closer. Just besides his seat but she was too short to see anything over the banister, but she could smell Rimuru and the dwarves, as well as the minster, his scent making her growl lowly as the court was in session but an unfamiliar man that smelled like a weasel.
The king only watched with his head in one hand as he noticed Vesta had bandages not only on his cheek but also around his head and with his arm in a cast... even after he was given that healing water that the slime had provided for them, there was still quite a bit of it left over for more testing.
~Trial~
"As we have seen, when Minster Vesta was enjoying a drink in said establishment, Kaijin and his Gang stormed the place and assaulted him. Such behavior must not be tolerated." Came from out of the weasel smelling man's mouth. Kayo bit back a growl.
'What!? We were there first! He even poured his drink on my brother and an elf! Are you buying what this guy is selling?! Please tell me you aren't!' Kayo thought as she remembered going to the night, and then. 'If you're not using those girls as informants... you're missing out on some good stuff.' Kayo was thinking and the king tried not to show his amusement outwardly at her thoughts of slow roasting Vesta over a spit along with a turkey was amusing.
Kayo wasn't wrong... they made good informants and it made this case both easy and hard to deal with.
"Is this true?" the man acting as judge asked.
"Yes, there is no mistake." The weasel man reaffirmed.
"King Grazel, have you heard all this? Please Pass strict judgment on these people!" Kayo heard Vesta's voice and she approached the stone railing only to pop her head over and glare at the minster who looked shocked and confused, especially when she was glaring daggers at him, and he didn't know why she would.
'Kayo! Where have you been?!' Rimuru questioned as he was shocked to suddenly see her, let alone so close to the king! 'Long story. I can tell you on the way back home.' she responded and slipped back down to the floor to look at the king who gave her a knowing glance and she nodded and came to hop up on his lap. The king bit back an amused smile as the little fox just pulled out a book to read instead of listening to the fabricated story.
"The principal offender, Kaijin, is sentenced to 20 years of forced labor in the mines. And his accomplices are sentenced to 10 years of forced labor in the mines." The judge of the trial announced as Kayo looked at the still king as he let this go on. 'Is this really a fair trial or is Vesta being extra vindictive?' Kayo questioned as she closed the book and tuned back in.
"The Court is now adjourned."
'H-hey! Wait a minute!' Rimuru was thinking, not wanting to spend 10 years in a mine while he had to leave Kayo with running the village for him without a way to create sturdy shelter and warm clothes.
"Wait." King Dwargo spoke up, catching everyone's attention.
"It's been some time Kaijin. Have you been well?" the king asked, straiting his posture a little but still leaning on his right arm. "Yes." Kaijin took a knee with his fist on the ground, head bowed low, those on the floor did the same... kinda.
"Kaijin, You may answer his Majesty." The Judge allowed the Dwarf to speak.
'Kinda stupid to not have them speak but I can understand not wanting to be enchanted by a sliver tongue. Then again you can read their thoughts. So I'm guessing it's not a well-known secret~.' Kayo thought as the king was amused by the little fox's thoughts but had to not show their little conversation.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I am relived to find you in good health as well." Kaijin responded, head still bowed low. "Kaijin, have you any interest in returning to my ranks?" The King asked and noticed Kayo's ear twitch as she picked up Vesta's gasp of shock. 'I wonder what happened for Kaijin to be a pain in his butt.' Kayo questioned as Vesta smelled like lemons... some people disliked them some were fond of the sour citrus... Kayo liked Lemons... at least in her past life so it was hard to tell if Vista was good or bad.
"Forgive me, your Majesty, but I have already found a master. My sworn oath is my greatest treasure. I will never part with this treasure, even if your majesty orders it." Kaijin voice resolutely, Kayo gave a mental pat on the head to Rimuru for securing Kaijin's sworn oath.
"Insolence!" One guard shouted and pointed his weird spear at Kaijin, and the many other followed suit. 'So are you gonna let him come with us?' Kayo asked as she looked at the king with pleading eyes. Not worried that the party below would be hurt.
Garzel Dwargo looked into Kaijin's mind and saw that he was resolute in his decision, even without the little fox kit's pleading.
"I see." He gave the fox a small nod and signaled the guards to stand down... and they did. "I will now pass Judgment. Kaijin and his companions shall be exiled. That concludes my verdict. Disappear from my site at once!" The man commanded strongly as the court was adjourned. Only Kayo approached the hero king and pat his hand as she looked up to him with a comforting look, and the king held her small hands for a short moment as Kaijin and the others where lead out.
"Minster Vista, Stay. I would like a word with you." The king asked as he looked at his minister with a stony look as Kayo could feel his grip get tight around her own, but it wasn't painful.
'Can I hit him? Just once?' she thought, kinda wanting to get one Wack at the sour minster, but also to try and relive the king a little, she could feel his disappointment with Vista.
~That Evening~
"Hey! Don't leave without us!" Kayo called out as she ran towards the slime and the goblins that had waited for them outside of Dwargon, behind her was Gobta and his tempest wolf behind her as her fox form was a bit swifter as she pounced on the slime ball who was then picked up by the transformed fox. Her from having human ears and had the outfit the Elves had given her on, a golden chain around her neck under the blue collar Rimuru put on her before.
"Kayo! Where have you been!? Why where you with the King?!" The slime asked, having wanted to ask, and looked confused and worried for the fox kit that seemed to have grown in height again. "Oh! One of the king's men kidnapped me because we looked sus. Well, I did because kitsunes are supposed to be good at stealing stuff but nope! I made a bet with the king on how much that Sour Minster would play up his injuries! Oh! And he gave me this!" Kayo excitedly explained and pulled out her prize...
"TA DA!" she held out the black leather journal with a blue tassel and simple pencil tucked inside it. Rimuru was unimpressed but the dwarves looked at the book in shock, the cover having the Kingdom's emblem on it.
"You're not hurt, are you?" Rimuru asked, sighing. He felt like he was getting older looking after the energetic kit, but she looked happy with her simple prize as she bounced excitedly. "Nope! King Dwargo is pretty cool! And he says I could come back if I wanted to! I even had to tell the lovely elves they will never see you again~." she mentioned and Rimuru was ready to punish her but pulled something form her book... it was a piece of paper with writing and lip stick marks all over it.
"I can just keep it if you don't~..." Kayo was waving the paper teasingly as the slime quickly took it and gushed over the farewell letter Kayo had gotten from the elven ladies, wishing they could see him again. "R-right, now that we are all here, let's get going." Rimuru reasoned as the dwarves where unsure about ridding the tempest wolves at first, but Kayo assured them it would be fun... the dwarves agreed in the end, but none of them noticed the tail Kayo had distracted them from.
Only Rimuru noticed that Kayo would disappear into the forests when they settled for the night but would come back safely before midnight.
~Weeks Later~
"I'm beat." Kayo panted as she was covered in sweat and dirt as she flopped to the ground after having raised the frame of a more permanent structure that would make up their Goblin village. "Lord Kayo, please have some water. You're working so hard to build us all homes even when you don't have to." Came from a new goblina who held out a well-crafted cup to Kayo filled with cool water from the well that had been completed a few weeks before.
"Oh! Thanks." Kayo happily took it, sitting up and gulping it all down. Once done she handed it back to the goblina who was happy to give her another cup full to hydrate. The fox didn't turn it down and drank it quickly. Then just relaxing for a bit to look over what had been done to the once small and primitive goblin village.
They had some roads mapped out along with the foundations of a few key buildings, Myrd, the silent one of the dwarves, was good at construction and was the one Kayo was around the most to help out with the village foundation. There were several sleepless nights gone into making sure the village had clean space and water for the now 800 residences that had come seeking the slime's protection, and Kayo's help with matters of the heart.
"Lord Kayo!" The fox looked to a young goblin running up to her, this one had come with the 500 that had awaited them once they had. He stopped before the relaxing fox as she waited or him to catch his breath, The village was already going to be huge, and left with the open possibilities of expanding later on.
"What's the rush for? Has something happened?" Kayo asked as she was sure nothing had gone wrong since the Forge had blown up by inexperienced goblins studying under Kaijin.
"The security team has reported strange activity in the forest, 2 females and 2 Males with 4 in total, and their humans, Lord Kayo." The goblin told her looking a bit scared as Kayo frowned. "Thank you for telling me. Have some water and I will see to this. Has my brother been informed?" She asked as the goblina offered a cup of water to the exhausted goblin who nodded.
"Yes, My Lord. King Rigurd went to inform him personally." the goblin reported, and Kayo thought for a moment. 'Rimuru could take care of them himself... but he's too soft to want to hurt them if they are trying to slay the goblins.' She debated on how to approach the situation before turning to the goblina. "Go and fire up one of the gills in a hut with enough meat for 5 humans." she told the goblina who nodded and went to do as she was ordered. Kayo got off the ground and dusted her clothes off to look a bit more presentable.
"My Lord? Are you going to welcome these humans?" the goblin asked, looking horrified at what the kitsune had ordered.
"It's best to make a good impression when meeting new people. Human or monster on the outside doesn't matter, it's their intentions that do. Besides my brother being soft for humans, I bet these fools have been on the forest for a while and would sell their souls for a hot meal." Kayo gave him a sinister grin and the goblin looked at her in admiration.
"Oh! Your so wise Lord Kayo! Using Food to subdue your enemies." He praised, inflating Kayo's now growing ego and confidence. "I know~ Just leave the dirty work to me." Kayo giggled and thought of ways to get under the guards of the humans that had come into their forest.
~With the Human Party~
"So~ cute!" The blond female of the group gushed as she suddenly picked up Kayo who was in her small kit form, the bell on her blue collar chimed as she was squeezed by the human. Having been in the temporary hut cooking the meat for the guests with her fire breathing. "I can't believe there is such a cutie here, and such soft smooth fur too." the girl pet her and Kayo didn't mind as she was close enough to get a good sniff of the girl, the scent of a fresh leather-bound book, so possibly not bad.
"Hey, you don't know where that thing has been. It could have a whole bunch of fleas and ticks for all you know." one of the male party members, the blond male. voiced and reached to take the little fox form the girl, only to stop when Kayo took a warning snap at his fingers. 'FLEAS!? TICKS!? I take damn good care of my fur thank you very much!' she thought but caught a quick whiff of his scent, like month old socks and dirt, a must watch.
"Hey! Don't be mean, look it even has a collar! So it must be someone's pet." the female voiced, keeping the male away from the smelly male. "But what's it doing in a goblin village? Is there a crest on that collar?" the other male, a short brown hair male asked as he came closer and looked at the kit carefully. Kayo couldn't smell him quiet as well, but she did get the scent of smoke and leaves.
"No, it looks like it's just a bell. You don't think they took it from someone do you?" The blond male asked his party members, but Kayo was eyeing the last member of their party and the only one wearing a mask... for some reason the masked woman had Kayo's fur standing on end.
Grrowl~
Kayo's ears twitched as she noticed the call of empty stomachs coming from all the adventurers, even the masked woman.
"Ugh, maybe we can pick this back up after we eat? That meat looks pretty tasty." Questioned the blond male as he hungerly eyes the cooking meat. Of course, the others nod and take a seat before eagerly taking part in the spread Kayo had provided for them. The fox kit was set down on the ground between the blond female and the masked dark-haired female... and kayo got a good whiff of her scent... burning hair and flesh...
"Hey! Little fox! Come back!" the blond called out as Kayo ran away, being scared by the masked woman.
'Fuck! This isn't good. I got to warn Rimuru.' she though as she had the blue slime in her site approaching with Rigurd and Ranga.
"Big brother!" she called out and transformed into her small human form, stopping just before the slime in her panic. "Hm? What the mater Kayo?" he asked her, confused by her reaction. "Those humans... the one with the mask... she's dangerous. The others seem like nothing but that woman... she's-."
"The masked woman!? Are you sure?" he asked, a bit startled and confused by her warning.
"Yes! Her scent, it smelled like burning hair and flesh." she told him and couldn't hold back a shiver, the smell was not something she wanted to remember.
The slime was quiet before Ridurd spoke up.
"How should we deal with them Lord Rimuru, if Lord Kayo says one of them is dangerous-"
"I will handle it. Don't worry. I'm sure the masked women is just really strong. She did fight some giant aunts using some fire sword. Maybe that is what you are smelling." he tried to reason but Great Sage told him different.
Passive skill: Aura Scent
The user can smell the auras of others, those with pleasant scents are usually non hostile to the user. As those with fowl scents are warnings of those will ill intentions.
'Hmm, well... better check and see them for myself then.' Rimuru thought, confused about Kayo's warning and the image he had seen in the elf's crystal ball, the masked woman looked like the one he was destined to be with after all.
Rigur opened the tent for them as Rimuru and Rigurd went inside and Kayo followed them in, trying not to show her panic as she was unsure of the masked woman and took to hiding behind Rigurd for the moment, like a scared child. The adventurers where eagerly chowing down on the meat like they had been starving... even the masked woman was eating but threw her mask that seem to just slurp up the meat.
"Guests, I hope you are comfortable here. Allow me to make Introductions. This is Our Master, The great Rimuru!" Rigurd introduced the slime first, as Kayo tried to observe.
"Master!?" the adventurers seemed surprised but not the masked woman who was quiet and observed.
"You got a problem with that?" Rimuru asked, sounding a little miffed.
"We knew your where no ordinary slime, but we had no idea..." The blond female trailed off, unsure of what words to use that wouldn't anger the powerful slime monster. "Nice to meet you! I'm Rimuru the Slime! I'm not a bad Slime! Slurp~" Rimuru chipped cheerfully, trying to ease their worried by acting cute and silly, only Kayo couldn't help but sniffle a laugh at the Dragon Quest reference, and apparently the masked woman also understood, sniffling a laugh herself. Her party however didn't seem to understand.
"We apologize. We never expected to be saved by a monster, but we do appreciate it." The blond man bowed to Rimuru to show his thanks along with the other male and the blond female. Only the masked woman stayed silent, Kayo poked her head form behind Rigurd to get a better look, but the Goblin Lord took it as a cue to introduce her.
"This is our Young Lord Kayo, Sibling of the great Rimuru. She asked for the meat to be prepared for you." The goblin lord side stepped to let the adventurers see the started fox child as her ears and tail perked up in shock. "Oh! You're a kitsune? Where you in here in your fox form? You were so cute~." The blond girl asked, looking excited and wanted to pet the cute little fox kit again.
"Y-yes. I'm glad you liked it." Kayo acted shy and hid behind Rigurd again, peeking out like she was a scared child... only it confused Rimuru why she was acting this way.
"So what brings you all the way out here?"
"I'm Kaval, For what it's worth, I'm the leader of this party. This is..." the 'Leader' pointed to the blond girl who eagerly introduced herself. "I'm Eren. I didn't mean to scare you, Lord Kayo." she said softly, with an understanding smile at the fox kit. Kayo however wasn't looking at her but at the masked member as the leader pointed to her as Gido introduced himself.
"And this is a temporary member who just happened to be going the same way as us." Kaval pointed out the mast woman who finally spoke.
"Shizu."
That was all the woman said, no surname before or after.
'The one I'm destined to be with is named Shizu, Huh?' Rimuru was thinking but Kayo could hear his thoughts as her blood ran cold with fear... running her Unique Skill: Match maker or Eros as she nick named it...
Romantic Compatibility between Brother Rimuru and Stranger Shizu is 87%.
'87 PERSCENT!?' Kayo questioned as she looked between the two, no longer paying attention to what the humans had to say. 'How can they have an 87% match rating? He's never met her before! Not to mention her scent... She's dangerous.' Kayo thought before Rimuru told her to take care of their guests. "Big brother." Kayo called out worriedly to him but did as he asked, then again, he was taking care of Shizu himself. 'Please be careful, don't let your guard down. I have a very bad feeling.' She warned him before he left.
~~Later~~
"You can rest here, Miss Eren. I made sure you had extra soft pillows." Kayo showed the blond female to a tent not far from her male companions, but far enough away for more privacy and not to hear any snoring.
"Aww thank you so much, you're such a little sweetie~." Eren gushed and hugged the little fox who stiffened at the sudden contact but started to relax as Eren started to pet her head. "I've never seen a black kitsune before, I've only read about them in books and how they um... where very strong." She mentioned, trying to hide what Kayo already knew.
"I'm not a bad kitsune. Just because I was born this way... does it mean I'm bad. Miss Eren?" Kayo asked as she looked up at the girl with tears in her golden eyes. "Oh no, of course not! Your very sweet and thoughtful! Um, how about I give you something? As thanks for giving us that meat." she suggested, and Kayo's tail wagged. "I don't need anything but... you can use magic right? Can you teach me how to cast spells? I want to get stronger to help my big brother and the village. Even if I'm so small and weak." Kayo asked, hoping that this would be a way to learn magic as the blond dug threw her bag and pulled out a book.
"Sure! I would love to. Here, I can even give you my Beginner's book to spell casting. Oh! Um can you read this Lord Kayo?" Eren asked as she looked worried that the fox wouldn't be able to understand Human language but. "Of course, I can!" Kayo smiled and was handed the book. Beaming with excitement she flipped to a random page and looked at it... and looked at the scribbles on the pages that somehow made up a book meant for beginners.
"Miss Eren... I can't read it!" Kayo cried as she looked up at the blond that tried to sooth her and helped her learn what was in the book, not knowing Kayo could already read it and just wanted to play the ignorant child for as long as she could.
~That Night~
Kayo yawned as she was in her slightly bigger fox form, hopped up onto the bed that was technically Rimuru's, it was soft and off the cold hard ground, it even had a thin blanket she nestled under. The little fox was ready to sleep but her mind worried for the blue slime who had gone off to talk with the masked woman, Shizu, in private.
'The woman he is destined to be with... could it be real?' She questioned, not having believed in destiny, never mind the idea of Soul mates, but she was curious. Her ears perked as she heard the slime hop into the tent and onto the bed with her.
"You're worried over nothing Kayo. Shizu is really nice. Oh! And she really is from Japan! Just from when it was at war with your old country." Rimuru told her as the fox kit listened to him talk about this woman he had just met and had such a strong connection with upon their first meeting. Telling her about what they talked about as the slime nestled into her warm soft fur like he did every night. It was mostly for Kayo's wellbeing, as she had nightmares when sleeping alone, but not when she napped or slept with the slime. Of course, it was just a big brother being there for his little sister, or a master for his pet.
"Why are you always so warm and cozy? I can't feel hot or cold anymore, but you always feel warm to me." The slime noticed as Kayo curled her 3 tails around him and lay her head on her paws. "I don't know. Maybe it's more phycological, I am the first female you've slept with after all." she teased, and the slime gasped in shock... but she was right.
"So what are you going to do now?" Kayo asked seriously.
"What do you mean?" Rimuru was confused by what she was asking.
"About your 'soul mate', is she going to move to the village? Are you going to leave the village for her?" Kayo asked, having put thought into possible outcomes. If the woman stayed, then she would have to be watched and held at triple arm's length until she could be deemed 'safe'. Then is Rimuru left the village to be with her. "We will be here for you if you want to leave..." Kayo added softly, thinking it was the most likely choice.
"Nah. That would mean leaving you behind. You like this village don't you, Kayo?" Rimuru asked, having seen how she got along with the Goblins and Tempest Wolves. Never mind the time she spent learning from the Dwarf brothers and Kaijin who welcomed her as a student.
The little fox nodded.
"Yeah. Of course, I do. I care about the people we are protecting, the village we are making and the family we are going here." Kayo mentioned but winced as there was a strange pain in her head.
"Are you okay?" The smile asked worriedly as he reached out to pet her, ignoring the flinch the fox had as a bad reflex and pet her small head gently. "Yes, thanks big brother." Kayo sighed and nuzzled the slime who relax against her as she curled around him like a furry shield.
"I'm curious... what was our computability?" Rimuru asked, not able to sleep after the amazing day he had. Kayo took a while to respond that he thought she had already fallen asleep. "87percent." Kayo told him after an internal debate but thought telling him would bring him to a final decision.
"87 percent? Wow... is that a lot?" Rimuru asked but was unsure how Match Maker work... at least how Kayo used it.
"Yes, it's the highest compatibility ratting I have ever seen. I think the only reason it's not higher is because you're not human... maybe... But breeding is at least 10 percent of it." Kayo tailed off as she blushed under her dark fur only to feel her node being booped. "Oi oi oi. Don't get any naughty ideas." he told her as he was also blushing.
"I'm a gentleman." he said and Kayo scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Right, A 'gentlemen' who likes to be held by elven women with big boobs. Does she know you like elves? Maybe that's another reason it's not higher. She is kinda small in the bust aera." Kayo muttered and had some fun teasing the slime before they fell asleep after auguring about Boobs VS Booty again.
~Morning~
Kayo was first to wake up and went about her morning routine, drinking some water before washing her face to help her wake up in the early hours, then getting on some clean clothes for the day. A simple pair of shorts and black tank top with some sandles she had the option of using as weapons to strike fear in some stubborn goblins. After she was dress was a solo permitter check around the village and greeting a few of the night watch to get a report of the night before. All was quiet with no site of any unknowns approaching or assembling in the forest around the village.
'Good, there is no immediate threat. So why do I have this uneasy feeling?' Kayo thought as she went to go make sure their guests had something for the trip back besides directions. Only the fox stopped in her tracks as a cold chill overcame her. Her eyes darting around and seeing nothing, but something was... off enough to make her fur stand on end.
'I have a bad feeling.' she thought and slowly approached the tent that had Eren and Shizu inside.
"Hello? It's Kayo. I'm coming in." Kayo announced as she stood before the flimsy flap that acted as a door and pushed it aside to peek into the tent. Something was not right as Kayo saw that Shizu was up and... looking a bit pale.
"K-Kayo-san. What are you doing up?" the woman asked the little fox child who stared back at her, looking nervous as she recognized the golden eyes had wisdom beyond their years. "I sensed something was wrong... did you have a nightmare?" Kayo asked, not wanting to act like a child when the woman knew she was also a reincarnation like Rimuru.
"Yes, thank you for your concern, huh?" Shizu gave Kayo as smile, trying to assure her but the fox child came closer to her despite everything telling her not to. Kayo reached into her void pocket and pulled out some dried purple flower petals with some black charcoal looking items inside.
"Lavander helps get restful sleep, I made this insincere. Just light it up and the smell will fill the aera or room." Kayo explained as she set it on the bed in front of the shocked woman. "Kayo-san?" she questioned the fox who gave us a serious look.
"My brother likes you." Kayo started bluntly, having tried to think of the right way to confront the woman that might become her sister-in-law. "That doesn't mean I do. I don't trust you, if you joined their party as a cover for your real mission then your gonna have to deal with me. I'm not gonna let anyone hurt my brother or this village, got it." She told the women sternly and Shizu was shocked but then smiled at her that unnerved Kayo as she took a step back.
"You're a good sister. Rimuru-san is lucky to have you... please... continue to take care of him." She told the fox kit who was confused, Shizu took the incense and gave it a deep sniff and smiled at the familiar scent. "Eren-san told me you want to study magic... I used to be a teacher... would you like me to teach you a spell?" she offered the fox kit and Kayo was unsure if she should accept or not.
"Your party is leaving today. It's not that easy to get on my good side." she told Shizu and went to leave the tent quickly, not knowing that she did help the woman in her own small way.
~Departure~
"Oh wow! You got so good at all the spells already, Lord Kayo!" Eren praised as Kayo had come back to the girl's tent to check on them, when Eren was awake and dressed and in the middle of fixing her hair. Kayo had some to show the blond woman what she had been working on that morning, showing off the small beginner spells that where in the book.
"Yeah! Thank you so much Miss Eren! I should return your book. It looks important." Kayo reasoned as she pulled the book form her void space and was handed it back you the blond, having made a copy of the book for later anyway.
"It is. My papa gave it to me when I was your age." Eren mussed, ignorant of Kayo's real age. "He sounds nice, I hope you have everything, I even packed some jerky for you in case you guys get lost again." Kayo helpfully informed as Eren suddenly hugged the little fox child. "Oh thank you! Thank you so much! You're an angel!" she cried and hugged her tightly as the fox squirmed in her hold.
"Eren-san. I think Kayo-san needs to breath." Shizu pointed out, amused as the blond blinked and let go of Kayo who gasped for air.
"I'm so sorry, Lord Kayo! Please forgive me." Erene pleased as Kayo coughed a little to get back to normal breathing. "It's fine. Are you ready? The guys are already at the edge of the village waiting." Kayo told her as the blond quickly got her stuff, Shizu reached out the fox but pulled away to put on her mask.
Eren happily talked with Kayo about some spells she had mastered and started to change a little to experiment. Everything seemed fine but really, Kayo had some tempest wolves and goblins keeping an eye out in case of danger. Once past the huts the goblins watched from afar as they approached there the two males, where waiting with Rigurd, Rigur, and Rimuru perched on the goblin Lord's shoulder.
"Sorry for the wait! We lost track of time." Eren apologized as she got closer to her party members.
"Oh, we waited alright." The large brown-haired male groaned, as the sun was already high in the sky when the rest of their party arrived. Shizu having given Kayo a few lessons on dealing with fire magic, the little fox took the lessons but was still weary of the woman, even if she smelled like withering wisteria flowers now.
"Jeez, why do women take so long to get ready?" The blond leader asked, hands on his hips as they had been waiting for quite a while. "My bad, I had a lot of questions for Miss Eren. Once the Village is done maybe I will go visit you guys. I've always wanted to be part of a guild." Kayo expressed, a bit more at ease with these humans as she hopped up to them with a smile and held out two wooden boxes wrapped with some twine. "Here, for your journey back home. A nice nutritious lunch, or dinner I guess." Kayo smiled up at them as the two males took the boxes with smiles. "Thanks Kid. But this isn't gonna make up for-huh?" the blond leader was saying before Kayo hissed and pulled Eren closer to the group as Shizu stopped in her tracks.
The fox kit hissed and transformed into her larger fox form... her 3 tails on full display. "Lord Kayo? Shizu?" Eren was shocked and looked worried for the masked woman that was deathly still before she started to squirm like she was in pain or trying to hold something back.
"I knew it, this is bad news." Kayo growled, form her shadow Ranga appeared and also growled at the woman. "Lord Kayo is right Master, Miss Shizu... she reeks of deadly flames." he warned the slime as the two canines took on a defensive stance as she woman fell to her knees.
"Not... Again..." Kayo heard Shizu mutter under her mask as the human's started to show concern for her rather them themselves.
"Shizu!" Eren called out from behind Kayo's fluffy tails that had every hair standing on end as the masked woman bent backwards and yelled into the sky. Her mask cracking as the smell of destructive flames dominated the aera.
"Shizu! Shizu!" Eren called out to the woman desperately and tried to move Past Kayo, but Kayo's tail wrapped around her and put the young girl behind her, where the two males held her back as Shizu was surrounded by strange flames, that then shot up into the sky to create a swirling black mass of clouds that indicated something powerful was coming.
Shizu became quiet as her body floated into the air as the clouds blocked out the once sunny day all around them as red fire surrounded the woman's body
"Everyone! Get back!" Kayo called out as she grabbed the three adventurers with her tails and Ranga pushed back the two Goblins with Rimuru as Shizu's fireball expanded and caused a hot scorching dust to overcome them.
"Hey! Is everyone okay?" Rimuru piped up, having not believed Kayo at first but now feeling ashamed he didn't trust her now. Kayo heard the human say something but what caught her attention was Shizu's full title.
"Isn't Shizue Izawa... The Conqueror Of Flames?!"
'Fuck. This isn't gonna be easy.' Kayo Thought as she glared at the woman among the twirling flames, unsure of how she 'conquered' flames, but it would still mean trouble for the Fire kitsune part of her.