I Got Reincarnated! - Kitsune Chronicles
~Chapter 17~ Mysteries and Trickery
"Wow~! The dress looks so pretty~." Kayo whined softly as she looked at was what was supposed to be for her introduction to the Nobility of Dwargon threw Vesta's communication crystal. A long ball gown with various shades of blue and purple, with a full skirt that would completely cover her legs, of course this was a prudish nation so the dress had long sleeves that when form a dark purple to white and transparent near the writs with some golden accents and small crystals decorating the front and skirt to give an impression of a night sky.
"You could still wear it." Vesta mentioned as he looked at Kayo fawning over the dress he showed her, the black fox tails happily swishing behind her also gave her emotions away before they stopped suddenly. "No. It's just going to be in the way. I need to wear the suit." Kayo mentioned, sighing as she looked at the former minster who looked at her disapprovingly. "You're a prin- Ahem, a royal lady. All Noble ladies wear dresses." Vesta corrected himself as he saw that strange eye turn black for a moment.
"Not this one, not to mention this is the ARMED Nation of Dwargon, a nation known for its military might, the dress is too showy and impractical. I know I'm supposed to act like a fool but I will still need supporters who will trust in me and my abilities while I'm there." She reasoned but still looked longingly at the dress.
"Don't worry Little Fox, I'm sure you will have a good reason to wear this dress. Maybe for your coronation?" King Gazel Dwargo joked threw the orb as he saw Kayo dressed in the suit, she was to wear for her formal introduction to Dwargon high society.
Some black ankle boots with fashionably high 3 inch heals with an impressively sized diamond on each ankle strap, tucked into them was dark purple slacks that hugged the kitsune's lower body nicely combined with a pure white blouse with wide sleeves decorated with the image of light blue crystals on the ends. The black 'ribbon' was tied around her waist, showing off her hourglass figure with a blue jabot that matched Gazel's blue eyes. A golden crest of the Dwarf Nation pined around her neck. An open black and gold lined sleeveless jacket that reached down to her knees on top of it all with a sparkling white rose as her accessory in her lapel. The only other 'accessories' she had out where her fox black and white tipped ears and 3 tails, still hiding that symbol of her strength.
"No thanks old man. You're going to have to find a real heir after this. It's gonna be fun, don't get me wrong, but my home and heart is here, in Rimuru city." Kayo reasoned as she looked at herself in the full-length mirror, feeling a bit more like an imposter as her reflection gave a confident smile at her while she was nervous. "I'm taking this off for now, we have human guests coming and I don't want them seeing behind the mask of Inari Dwargo." She voiced and took of the frilly accessory and looked at it sadly, a strong echo of rage and sadness filled her as she fell to her knees, looking away from the mirror as she suppressed these sudden emotions.
"Lady Kayo, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" Vesta grew concerned as he kneeled beside her, having failed his king once, he felt he could do better under a new ruler. "I'm fine, just... cover the mirror." She told Vesta, who was confused but did as she asked, grabbing a sheet that was nearby and throwing it over the dressing mirror, not able to see the shadow with blue familiar eyes glaring at Kayo enviously.
'This is getting bad.' Kayo thought as she knew what was happening and went to the wine and glass that was left as she was trying on the 'costume' Shuna had made her. Pouring herself more wine and drinking it to sooth her nerves and pouring another glass to drink.
"Little fox, please take care of yourself. I may have no blood ties to you, but I see you as my own flesh and blood. I look forward to your performance tonight." the king encouraged before disconnecting as Kayo was drinking her wine and spit it out at what he had told her, those feelings hitting her harder as she gripped the table and spilled the wine.
"Lady Kayo? Are you truly?" Vesta questioned, now more worried for the fox and what was happing to her.
"I'm fine!" she snapped as him and threw the small table at him... but missed him as the poor piece of furniture splintered against the wall. The former minster shocked at her violent reaction as she shook, putting her hands to her head and there was a strange flash of light from a strange skill he had never seen before.
"Lady Kayo!?" he called her name worriedly as she kneeled to the floor, a blank look in her golden eyes for a moment and she blinked. "Lemongrab? What? What... was I doing?" Kayo asked, looking confused and dazed which worried the lemon scented man who helped her up, then again, she got up on her own as she was far too heavy for the researcher to lift himself. "You were going to meet with those guests that just arrived in Rimuru city before leaving to prepare for your introduction banquet in Dwargon. Are you sure you're alright? You don't need to receive those guests. I'm sure Lord Rimuru can handle them better than the last Guests we had alone." he told her, but Kayo frowned and rubbed her head.
"No, he can't. Their human and he's got a soft spot for them. It doesn't help Kaval and his party are here too, their familiar with him already. I don't know which one will be the bigger threat to my blue little brother. They could all trample over Tempest, and he would let them!" Kayo complained as a green fox in a maid uniform was cleaning up the wine before Kayo and Vesta left the room.
"Little brother?" Vesta questioned but then chuckled. "Well, you have been doing exceptionally well in your political and foreign law studies. Lord Rimuru and the others do seem to be lacking wisdom in how to properly negotiate with foreign nations, among other things." He mentioned, a little proud that the fox was being so serious about running a real nation, one that could be the blessing, or the bane of the world.
He was glad King Gazel had a fondness for the little fox who stood in the large shadow of the slime, working in his blind spots. If she was content with her role or not-
"Starlight?" Kayo questioned suddenly, seeing a pink haired girl with twin tails about to enter the meeting room, not responding to the nickname at all as she reached for the glittering door handle. Only to suddenly be grabbed by her pig tail and roughly pulled away from it by the pissed off kitsune as she let out a small yelp of shock at the sudden movement. "You're not Milim." Kayo growled at the girl who looked like the Pink haired demon girl, but they didn't smell like her. When it looked at her... it paled as it saw the blacken demon eye that could see pass the illusion to her true form... of a masked clown. She screamed loudly before escaping, Kayo having pulled out a blade to try and slit her throat, but she was too slow to run a blade over the child like clown's neck.
Vesta was just behind the kitsune... very shocked that he had to faint into the arms of one of Kayo's brothers, dressed in dark blue with a white and black marked fox mask.
"Take care of him. I have some Sirius business to take care of." Kayo ordered as she slipped the blade away before grabbing the golden handles herself, taking a second to tame the demon eye, and throwing the doors open with confidence.
~Meeting Room B~
After everyone was introduced, Rimuru questioned the new faces to his city, confident he could do it on his own.
"So, the kingdoms of Blumund and Falmuth have both come to investigate this place?" He asked the unfamiliar looking man that had come with Kaval's party, while the Man from Falmuth, who took the right most seat next to the slime, had his arms and legs crossed on top of the table while two of his subordinates stood along the wall behind him.
"We are-" the older male started but was interrupted by the man form Falmuth.
"Wait a minute. Why is a slime acting like such a big shot? It makes no sense! What's the deal here? Why are all of you okay with this?" the man asked as Rigurd and Benimaru shared a look, before there was a girl's scream from the hallway that gave a fright to most of those in the room. Waiting a few seconds and the doors burst open to revile a well-dressed kitsune.
"Bonjour~, à tous! Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long!" Kayo cheerfully exclaimed, both confusing and startling everyone as she walked in confidently, stumbling a little from both the high heels and drinking. Souei being quick to help her stand as he grabbed her arm as she let out a relived sigh and mentally thanked the blue ninja as she stood behind Rimuru with a polite smile as her poker face. Standing at the familiar parade rest position that had been drilled into her.
"Eh? A kitsune?" The man from Falmuth questioned before scoffing as he noticed Kayo's 3 tails swaying on their own behind her. "So, this bitch is the one really in charge and the slime is just a pet? Now that-AGH!" the man was saying before Kayo held out her middle finger and slipped it under his boot that was on the table... and literally flipped him off into the wall behind him and down to the floor, all with her poker face smile not giving her away.
"Don't insult my big brother, dog. I'm a vixen not a bitch, get that right at least." Kayo corrected the man who lay on the floor with a bleeding head as his two subordinates looked on in horror and fear as their boss had gotten on the Vixen's bad side. "Kayo." Rimuru half scolded her, but at the same time didn't blame her as the man had called her a bitch first. The kitsune then pulled out one of the potions Vesta was working on and poured it over the man who was healed quickly from his injury. He looked at the fox in a bit of confusion and shock as he felt fine after she poured a potion on him, even if she made it look like she was insulting him as she did it.
"Sorry, about what my little sister did. Kayo can be a bit protective of me but she's a kind kitsune at heart." Rimuru reasoned as the man was helped up by his subordinates before Kaval and his group realized what he had called the unfamiliar kitsune.
"K-Kayo?! Is that really you?" Eren asked, shocked as she looked at the elegant grown woman standing behind the slime, and not the cute kitsune child she had read her spell book to. "No way! You were just tiny little fox last time we saw you!" Kaval voiced his shock as he roughly held his hands apart to show how tall little Kayo had been when they had last seen her. "It's good to see your doing well, your village looks amazing." Gido praised, happy to see the kitsune again, still shocked at how she had grown. "Thank you, we worked hard to make it just as splendid as its namesake." Kayo praised as she had to will her tails to not wag, placing her hand on top of the slime to indicate what their 'Village' was official called and to give the slime the go ahead.
"Right, Any ways. I want to be on good terms with humans. I hope we can trade and network with you all someday, too." the slime told the human's his optimistic plans in the simplest way, Kayo could see how he confused the Blumund guild master and the Dog of Falmuth were at the suggestion.
"Trade?" The guild master questioned but the dog didn't look interested, for obvious reasons.
"Yeah. We've actually made diplomatic relations with the Dwarven Kingdom already." The slime chirped up proudly, surprising both men at just the mention of the powerful nation. "With Dwargon!?" The guild master repeated in disbelief. "I think passing through this land would be more convenient for your merchants. What do you think?" Rimuru asked but Kayo sighed, picking up the confused slime and stretching him as far as she could, no one tried to stop her either.
"Waaa~! Kayo!" he yelled more in shock then pain as he was stretched, and his body tied into knots that only weirded the slime out. "You idiot. Do you have any idea what your offering? Or to whom you are offering it too? And without the input of the Guardian of the Jura Forest! Did you think it would be that simple? Having HUMAN merchants pass threw a Nation of MONSTERS?!" Kayo hissed angerly as Rigurd, and the Kijin could understand her concern about the humans among the monsters.
"Lord Kayo, we will not bring any harm to the humans. It was one of Lord Rimuru's first rules to us, we will be sure never to break it." the goblin king reason but Kayo smiled at him as she held her slime brother who was glad she had stopped.
"I know Rigurd, I trust every Goblin, Wolf, Orc, and Dragonewt to adhere to those rules religiously but-" Kayo glared at the two men, and the subordinates, not including Kaval's group. Putting directed pressure on the men who could feel it weighing on them, the subordinates fell to their knees, shaking under the Kitsune's glare. "It's the humans I don't trust to not hurt our people. They don't even get along with own species, never mind those who would even sell their own kin for a few coins." Kayo reasoned and the slime saw her point. He wanted to defend the humans who looked scared, save for the 3 who were spared her wrath, and that gave him an idea.
"Hey! Not all humans are bad Kayo! Like Kaval, Eren and Gido! You even protected them from an explosion without me ordering you too!" Rimuru recalled as the 3 smiled at the memory, and the Guild master gasped as he tried to inflate his lungs with air again. Possibly being one of the few who noticed she had left out a few species of the village who wouldn't hurt humans. "No. Miss Eren is not human. She's nothing like them so she doesn't count. Kaval and Gido are just her pets." Kayo told him, but Eren stiffened when she said she wasn't human as did the two men with her but relaxed at what the fox had said. "Hey! We are not her pets!" Kaval argues with a glare that wasn't very serious but a bit annoyed.
"Still, we've had problems with so called merchants trying to use the Jura Forest for their own benefit, from Blumund, Falmuth and a few other places if they are to be taken at their word." Kayo mentioned as the guild master gulped but he had to ask.
"T-they? You took Merchants prisoner?" he asked and flinched as Kayo's cold golden eyes came over him.
"They broke our laws, as well as a few of yours, I wouldn't be to upset about it. It was within our jurisdiction to punish them accordingly, even after our laws were explained to them. Some tried bribery, others chose violence and the rest... well... they offered a sample of their products." Kayo explained but when it came to the last one... her malice was visible to the whole room as she gave a malicious grin, her golden eyes glowing dangerously.
"What? What do you mean by... sample of their products?" The guild master asked, having a bad feeling about what the kitsune was talking about, before there was a knock on the doors, the malice disappeared in an instant.
"Ah, right on que~. Come in Miss Mirabel~." Kayo called out as the door opened and a beautiful blond elven woman came through the doors, holding a small light blue bundle in her arms with Kayo's brother Deigo holding a stack of paper documents, both came into the quiet room. No one said anything as the noise of a gurgling baby filled the room, its pale little arms having wiggled out of the soft blanket to reach for its mother's face. "Here are the files you requested Lord Kayo. Sorry for bringing the little one too. He was being fussy with the sitter." the elven woman explained, blushing lightly, giving a small smile as she seemed very weary of the humans and held her child close.
The Guild master's eyes widen, having noticed the elven woman had short choppy hair and green eyes like Eren. He felt a little sick as he saw the sack of papers be place in front of him, the image of a well-known smuggler, kidnapper, drug dealer, rapist, and murder. His profile the first thing he saw along with the charges brought against him, his punishment, and his death. Youm was given one as well but in a brown package to deliver to those with real power.
"You will find the profiles of those we captured and judged as well as those that have expired. Read the details at your leisure. Miss Mirabel~ wanna trade for a bit?" Kayo asked as she held up the slime to the elven woman who giggled at the kitsune's joke.
The slime however was inwardly panicking.
'KAYO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?' he yelled his thoughts at his sister who happily handed him over to the elven mother in exchange for her baby, then again, he didn't completely dislike this arrangement, letting himself enjoy it for just a little bit as Kayo cradled the baby half elf.
"Do you think the punishment was too much, Mr. Fuze?" Kayo asked as she offered the dark-haired baby her finger and he happily grabbed it, giggling in happiness as the kitsune was warm and inviting to the child. The Guild Master, Fuze was still looking at all the documents, his blood truing cold as he noticed nearly all of them where deceased, then he got to the details... they had been smuggling female slaves... elven slaves.
"Aww how cute! What's his name?" Eren asked as she eagerly got up and came to see the baby, only to be a little confused as she noticed it's soft black hair. "Lord Kayo granted him the name Hiroyuki." Mirabel told the young woman who looked confused and then shocked. "Kayo, is this your baby?" the woman questioned, Benimaru and Souei stiffened at the insinuation as they looked at Kayo who was caught off guard by the question.
"No. No. No. This is Mirabel's baby. It's kind of become a thing for me to name the babies I help birth here in Tempest." Kayo waved her off, trying not to hurt the baby boy whose green eyes looked at the other blond woman. "Ma!" the baby babbled as he reached for Eren who cooed over him. "Aww he's so cute! Who the father?" Eren asked carelessly as the elven woman looked away ashamed as she held the silent slime close to her body. "His... sire is unknown." Kayo told Eren who blinked in confusion before Fuze spoke up.
"I see no problem with the actions you took, and the mercy you showed us." Fuze voiced, his hand shaking as it rested on top of the of the records of fools that had crossed the kitsune. To his surprise, a purple kitsune woman appeared and placed nice hot cup of tea was placed in front of him in a cute white and blue teacup, some purple flower petals floating on the surface. The scent of the tea alone calming him down as he took a deep breath in.
"Chamomile and lavender?" Fuze questioned as he looked at the kitsune who nodded. "If I scare you any more you will have a heart attack. Your more useful to my brother alive." She told him honestly and Fuze couldn't help but be thankful, letting out a small laugh as he carefully took a sip of the tea, not questioning if it was poisoned. His whole body feeling warm again as the liquid entered his body and spread from his throat outward.
Rimuru just watched the kitsune work, amused by her little joke while trying to hide her kindness, while holding the baby she saved from dying and becoming an orphan.
"Well... Lord Kayo, was it?" Fuze asked, unsure of how to address the kitsune who gave him a confirming nod. "Are you saying that Dwargon acknowledged this nation of monsters as legitimate?" he asked the kitsune who only smiled before the door opened to let Vesta walk through, giving Kayo a worried look. "I believe I can confirm that." Vesta spoke as he let out a tired sigh, having been told about what he had missed while passed out. "Minster Vesta?" Fuze addressed the man who frowned.
"Former Minster." Vesta corrected with a sigh.
"What is a man of your standing doing here?" Fuze asked, shocked to see one of Dwargon's elite in a rather isolated budding village. "It's good to see you again, Fuze. What Lord Rimuru and Lady Kayo say is true." Vesta explained and bowed to the slime and Kayo who 'bowed' to him, and Kayo just nodded to the man who was firmly planted in his Dwargon roots.
"King Dwargo has entered a treaty with the Jura Tempest Federation, and so far, it has benefited both nations very well." Vesta mentioned and glanced at Kayo who let out a little giggle, more from knowing exactly what 'benefits' each nation was really getting, hiding it behind the guise of adoring a cute baby before she handed him back to his mother who set down the slime to rejoin the serious meeting.
Kayo dismissing the elf woman and her child as their small roles where done.
All the while the Falmuth dog, Youm looked to his handler, the young magic user wearing glasses who nodded and looked bald man who had been looking at him for his input about all of this. Kayo keeping an eye on the real leader of the Falmuth scouting party.
"Are you convinced now?" Rimuru asked, seeming oblivious to what the men form Falmuth where doing. Fuze was thinking over his words as he glanced at the Kitsune who's eyes were on him...and it made the experienced man uneasy with the unblinking stare. "Well, if that's the case we aren't opposed to cooperating with you, but I will need to see undeniable proof that you are, in fact, an ally of Humans. I assume that is... alright?" The Guild master questioned the slime but looked at the Kitsune who was still giving that eerie smile and stare before she let out an audible chuckle that made the man tense at the small noise.
"Undeniable proof you say~? Well, that's gonna be rather difficult unless that is your way of telling us to kill ourselves for the sake of humans. Or are you trying to sneak in a break from your duties as guild master, Mr. Fuze?" Kayo asked, and while there was no pleasure put on anyone, Fuze still felt it mentally and chuckled as she gave him the second option.
"Ah~. No getting past you is there?" He mussed and finished his tea as he welcomed the purple 2 tailed kitsune that had appeared with a matching teapot, and re filled his cup with more of the relaxing tea. "Being in change is a heavy burden, it's hard sometimes but important to sneak in a break now and again. I had a lot of trouble with these 3 guiding me here. I'm getting too old for adventuring, but I'm not done with my duties yet. You understand that. Right, Lord Kayo." Fuze asked, smiling at the kitsune who finally blinked and sighed, leaning a hand on the slime who was confused how Kayo was twisting this around.
"Oh~ to well. Your room and board will be taken care of during your stay. Obtaining any other supplies will be your own responsibility. You can purchase most items from our shops down the main street, we do take Dwarwen Coins of course, if you're in need of more pocket money you can ask Miss Mirabel who runs our job board on the 1st floor. There's nothing to grand but we don't have much trouble with mindless monsters coming near our city, so all the jobs are pretty small any easy to handle." Kayo told him, drawing on her memories from anime, manga and games that had guilds to make one for Tempest, but making a guild in a nation of monsters was tricky business.
"While you stay with us, you will of course need to follow our laws, but I can assure you they are not much different than those in your kingdoms. Only that ours are more well enforced." The kitsune finished telling them, seeming more relaxed and less... hostile to the humans as the kijin and Rigurd picked up on this shift from the kitsune.
"Thank you for the hospitality." Fuze chuckled and sipped the tea without worry, but he was feeling a bit-tired from the test the kitsune had just put him through. "Right! We want you to understand what we aren't a threat to you." Rimuru spoke as he was glad Kayo was finally being nice, but he also had some questions for her. "By the way, Mr. Fuze. Has news of the Orc Lord having been defeated already gotten around?" the slime asked, both worried and curious.
"No. Only our King and select handful of people know that." Fuze told him, raising and eyebrow at what the slime was thinking and seeing the smirk on Kayo's face, but she said nothing and let the slime come up with the idea on his own. "I see. In that case. Youm-kun, do you want to make a contract with me?" The smile asked, proud of himself for thinking of it. "Huh? What are you-" he was saying before he felt golden eyes looking at him, so he straitened up in his seat and addressed the slime.
"W-what might you be suggesting?" He asked properly.
"You said the King of Falmuth hired you with money, right? So, you would just be switching employers. To put it in simple terms, I want you guys to be the champions who defeated the orc lord." The slime told the humans, the room was quiet for a short while before Kayo bust out laughing, falling to her knees as she held her stomach and struggled to even breath.
"What!?" The 3 form Falmuth questioned in shock, not surprised the kitsune found it so hilarious.
"Just say we simply helped you out and start a rumor that you where the one to defeat the Orc Lord." The smile suggested, ignoring Kayo as she was trying to calm down and wiped the tears from her eyes. Her ears listing in on the slime's idea. "I figure that way I can be known as the trustworthy monster who assisted the champion." The slime looked to his subordinates as Kayo got back on her feet with Benimaru helping her up as she took in his scent a little to calm down. "I think it would be easier to befriend people that way, then if they think I'm some mysterious, threating monster. What do you say?" The slime asked them, and they all seemed to agree with their lord's decision. The slime not looking at the conflicted dog of Falmuth and missed his pondering look.
"You're missing a few steps Slime ball. Sure, Humans love to hear stories about their own being heroes but really... take a look at what they are supposed to believe defeated Geld Sr. Never mind the possible backlash that could come with it should a human see an Orc now." Kayo mentioned as she gave a disgusted look at Youm and his party who were confused as she had mentioned the Orc Lord by his given name and not his title.
"Sure, the dog has some brains but that's about it. Their equipment is trash, their party is made up of unskilled close and mid-range fighters, their magic users have low magicule reserves and are very physically weak, making them mid-day snacks for starving orcs. From there it's more of the same for anyone who managed not to be eaten or tried to run away to a safer nation, leaving their 'employer' thinking they are all dead." Kayo scolded seriously as the Falmuth team paled at her decryption of their original plan.
"Well... you can fix that, Right Kayo? Do what you need to make them look like champions okay!" The slime told her but there was a bad feeling that came over them as Kayo glared at her slime brother.
"And if I don't want to?" she asked with an icy hiss and the slime was a bit concerned.
"Um... I can get Hakuro to do it, but you know how to spin stories! Come up with an awesome one that people will gossip about!" the slime requested cheerfully but the Kitsune only walked away from him and to the door. "I'm not wasting my time on these magots. I get nothing out of it and all of the hard work." she pouted and was about to grab the handle when Fuze spoke up.
"How about we make a deal, Lord Kayo?" he offered and saw the kitsune's ears move to him before she glanced back at him. "Go on." She prompted as the man stood from his chair as he saw to appease to the fox and the slime with a gesture.
"I can manipulate and gather information from across the continent. I can spread the word, so you don't have to, Lord Kayo." he offered but was shocked when she rolled her eyes. "Don't insult me. I don't need anyone to spread information for me. Humans are natural gossips and will talk about nearly anything just to hear their own voices." she scoffed, and Fuze gulped. "What about gathering information? That's hard work... let me gather information for you, it's more accurate than anyone from Dwargon could ever get." He offered again and the kitsune turned around with a devilish smirk, walking over to him and holding out her hand.
"Let's make a deal then~, become one of my little foxes and serve me~." Kayo purred as no one spoke or moved for a bit before the Guild master took her hand firmly and shook it. Only to gasp and try and pull away when he felt something hot shoot into his body from his arm, and what looked like a black snake slip form under the kitsune's sleeve and onto his skin.
Kayo let go and the man collapsed into his chair with a gasp, trying to fill his lungs as his whole body felt like it had just been set on fire from the inside. The 3 adventures looked worried for their guild master who was covered in sweat and looking very pale.
"KAYO! What did you just do to him!?" Rimuru asked, shocked and worried about what the fox had done but Great Sage explained it to him.
Kitsune Subordinate Contract
Kayo Tempest has taken the Human Fuze as a Subordinate, or Fox, this grants the user with access to use the Fox's body. In exchange the fox will be granted special gifts and/or abilities by the user to best serv them. However: A Turn coat clause indicates the surrender of the fox's mind, body, and soul should they betray their master.
'What!? She can do that?' The slime wondered in a bit of aww as Kayo chuckled, Fuze calmed down, the contract slowly taking effect on the man. "So, tell me Fuze, what information do you have on Dwargon's, Inari Dwargo?" Kayo asked with a smirk, testing her new subordinate with interest.
"I-inari Dwargo?" Fuze questioned as his mind was a little dazed, but it felt so easy to remember the information he had about them. "You mean King Dwargo's Daughter? They come from a rural village and are 18 years of age. She's the illegitimate child with an unknown mother, possibly a random prosecute that got lucky. Agh. She's been seen at the Gates of Dwargon, working as a guard supposably. But the princess has been mostly seen either sleeping or flirting with some dangerous men." Fuze felt his pain go away and he kept telling Kayo all the information on the princess.
"Rumor has it King Gazel has been teaching her how to use a sword, and she's very much a Dwargo in that regard. That and they have a fondness for spending late nights at the Butterflies of the Night with many of the elven women there." he finished; Kayo started giggling but looked very pleased.
"Good. Very good~. I'm very glad I didn't kill you now." Kayo teased as she was perfectly giddy, forgetting to hide her other tails... all 6 of there were out now for all to see as they wagged behind her. "Kayo... you have... 6 tails?" Eren asked, as she saw the kitsune's tails double in number as the other two looked in shock and rubbed their eyes. "Oh? Yeah, I do but let's keep that between us, kay?" Kayo asked and gave them a wink with a finger to her lips. "Lady Kayo, I believe it's time you get going. King Dwargo asked to see you before the banquet in Dwargon tonight." Vesta informed Kayo, feeling himself become drained he is watching over the kitsune as his king had requested.
"Yeah. Yeah. In a bit. I want to try some of that Knight Spider, Gobta was raving about before it's gone. Oh! and don't worry big brother, The story will be good, and I promise to help Master Hakuro with training them. Together we should have them looking half decent in a few days." Kayo gushed and left the room in a childishly good mood. Once gone Youm had to ask the slime a serious question.
"What kind of demon did you summon?" he asked the slime, feeling like his life was about to come to an end.
"She's not a demon, she's my little sister." he told the worried human, not showing that he was also a bit worried and curious what the kitsune had planned.
~Dwargon~
"Well, this is boring. Why did he want me here so early?" Kayo cursed, pouting as she was fully dressed in her Dwargo attire, some silk black gloves covering her hands, the frilly collar around her neck and the small silver crown, wing like with a small 4-pointed star shaped quartz resting on her forehead contrasted with her dark hair that she had left down to keep it simple.
"Maybe because he wanted to make sure you were alright child. Did you sleep well last night back in your home?" the old woman from before asked Kayo as the two were sitting in a darken balcony overlooking the party bellow. "Yes. It was just a demon trying to possess me. Kicked his ass and got his eye." Kayo told the woman, smirking as the woman looked startled as she activated the demonic left eye to show her. Just leaving out a few extra things.
"A-a Demon!? What color was it?" the elderly woman asked, concerned as Kayo was confused.
"Black. Why does it matter?" Kayo tilted her head in confusion, having already mostly forgotten about the demon. "B-black!? My dear, those are one of the rarest demons to come across. Their unpredictable and don't just possess people! It must have had a reason, and to be after you my dear... I worry for your soul and that demon will no doubt be back to finish its work. They take their contracts very seriously." she told the disguised kitsune who was about to ask something but was told it was her time to enter.
"Don't worry about it. I'm fine and no demon is coming after me anymore. Now if you will excuse me, I have a spotlight to steal~." Kayo joked but was filled with unease, the former demon's hand wrapped around her middle and complacent with her commands as it's 'sprit' was trapped in an imitation pearl. "Time to get Sirius." she muttered as she called out her long suppressed inner theater kid.
"Presenting for the first time to the Dwargon Court! The Royal Heir, Inari Dwargo!" she heard her cover name being called as she took a deep breath and walked out as knights opened the doors for her and she was placed in the limelight, high above all the nobles. Her heart beat hard in her chest as she just took one step down their stairs, looking every bit regal, only letting her worry show as the room was quiet and she could feel the eyes on her. Analyzing her motions, her outfit, her skin, her body, her hair and her accessories. No one would think that she was to be their reckoning tonight, or later.
On the last few steps, she extended a bit too far and slipped, hundreds of people were eager to see her fall the rest of the way... or would have if not for two knights who came to her aid, keeping her face from meeting the floor as she intended, instead just floating over the last few steps before being placed gently on the red carpet.
Confused she glanced at the knights and recognized them as they gave her knowing smirks.
'That son of a vixen, he had more people keeping an eye on me then I though!' Inari realized, recognizing the knights from her time as a gate guard. Regaining her footing they let her go, as she confidently walked down the red carpet and up to her 'father' King Gazel Dwargo, who had a small smirk on his face as he heard her shock.
"Long live King Garzel Dwargo!" Inari bowed to him, not as a lady would but as a knight would down on one knee and head hung low. This got quiet mutters going around before Gazel got up from his seat and spoke.
"Rise my child and take your seat beside me." he commanded with a firm and even tone as he held out his hand for her to take for help. Inari did as she was told and got off her knee, not taking the king's hand and taking her temporary place at the smaller thrown to his left. The nobles started to talk as their greatest topic of discussion was now right in front of them.
'Let them talk. We will give them something to really talk about soon. I trust you got all the papers and evidence?' Inari questioned as Gazel looked at her form the side of his eye and smirked confidently. 'I'll take that as a yes, now hand over some of that Dwargon Whiskey.' Inari asked looking nervous on the outside despite being giddy for the events to come. A butler with a sliver tray offered her a crystal glass with amber liquid in it. Inari took it and gave a nod to the butler she recognized before taking a sip of that strong Dwarven whisky to loosen up.
It was boring for a while as more guest came in and paid respects to the Dwarf king and his only child. Some making an effort to kiss her ass, while a lot more ignored her, however she did get a lot of men looking at her will other intentions...
'After all, what better way to get to the top then to nab a princess who's the only heir?' she mussed and nursed the whiskey out of boredom, running Eros for the hell of it as it had been a while since she used it. It didn't surprise her that a lot of the 'couples' had low compatibility with each other. It amused her to unravel the web of affairs and lies in just the relationships of some of the nobles... only to freeze as her blue eyes narrowed on the next noble to come forth.
'Permission to terminate?' Inari asked only for the man to get two guards to grab him and push him to the ground.
"You dare show your face to me? After what atrocities you have committed. I do not know if you are a brave man or a foolish one to think I would not find out." Gazel voiced, pissed off for having to have the fox give him this information.
"K-king Dwargo! I have no idea what you are-"
"Silence!" the king roared, and it echoed threw the ballroom, proving the fox's voice lessons were useful. Inari tried not to show a smirk as the man's crimes of poisoning lands of other countries came to light... along with a 'little' secret he hid even from the mind reading king.
'One down, a fuck ton more to go.' she thought in amusement and sipped the whisky again as it would be a while longer.
~2 Hours Later~
'Oh, Great Lord Veldanava have mercy! I'm so freaking bored!' Inari though as she pouted, having finished a whole bottle of the whiskey on her own apparently. Just sitting on her thrown and watching the nobles try to make deals and connections among each other. 'I'm getting some nom noms!' She thought before getting up quickly, only to feel a wave of nausea, coving her mouth to hold it back.
"Are you alright Princess?" the knight closest to her asked, she glared at him since no one would see her small break in character.
"i-I'm fine, thank you. I'm just going to get some food and fresh air." she told them, keeping her voice shy and quiet as she went to the food spread but was not impressed by the grand offerings as she had been spoiled in Tempest. Still, she got some desserts and cake even as she pouted at their lackluster taste.
'I've got to teach the cooks some things, maybe try and give them the coffee and coco beans to grow for me? But it's too far North, the plants won't survive.' Inari as thinking as she ate the not so sweet sweets, heading somewhere to get fresh air... or as fresh as she could get in the cave nation. It made her a little uneasy not to see the moon and stars like she was used to.
Inari slipped out into a balcony that overlooked the whole kingdom, even with her dwarven ears she could hear the sounds of smiths burring the late-night oil to get orders done. 'I wonder if he will let me use the black smiths for more than weapon making... or could a few possibly help me make one of those? Maybe not, it's too dangerous in this kind of world. Unless it didn't have magic.' She was thinking before she heard someone also slip out into the balcony. Confused she turned to see who it was and wasn't surprised to see a noble man looking at her with lust.
"C-can I help you sir?" Inari asked shyly even if she knew what he was coming here to try and do.
"Oh yes you can, princess~. I'm here to offer you, my experience. Being in a new place surrounded by unfamiliar faces has got to be quite frightening for a young lady." he voiced as he got closer, and Inari could tell this man was trying to bewitch her. 'Ugh! He smells worse than the back end of a dragon.' She thought as looked scared and took her eyes off the man for a moment. Letting him get closer as she knew what he wanted, he was infamous for it but had not been prosecuted for some reason.
"Allow me to comfort you, dear prin-Agh!" the man said as he was about to touch Inari but got grabbed by his throat suddenly by the 'ribbon' that had partly changed into an arm and was choaking the man on her behalf.
Inari was a bit surprised but giggled at this opportunity.
"I'm so glad you volunteered~. I've been meaning to get more practice in removing a man's genitals. Don't worry this will hurt a lot, but you'll live to stand trial." Inari assured him with a sinister grin as the man paled and blacked out before she could even do anything. "Weak." Inari scoffed, disappointed as the arm dropped the unconscious man, before two shadow figures appaired. One with a fox mask the other without as it was one of Dwargon's ANBU shadow elves. "Take him to the dungeon to remove his tongue, he's got some strange ability attached to it." She warned the two who nodded and grabbed the man before they disappeared with the man and left her alone to see if she could lure more flies into her honey trap.
'And another one?' Inari noticed as she pretended to be shocked as another noble came and found her alone and unguarded.
~Witching Hour, Outskirts of Rimuru City~
"Finally! I'm home." Kayo smiled as she successfully teleported to her little hide away, blinking in confusion as she saw some of the little Faries sleeping in random places in her space. A little annoyed but forgiving of the small creatures who seemed to have left little gifts for the fox when she returned. Mostly seeds, some shiny objects, a few flowers and a strange note.
-In my arms, you are home. -
Was all that was written beautifully on some strange parchment that looked very old and was yellowed with age despite the just dried, clean inked lines of the characters.
"Who?" Kayo questioned as she looked around and only seeming to find the Faries and no traces of anyone else which unnerved the kitsune as she looked at the handwriting, trying not to blush as she imaged someone saying it into her ears, making her shiver.
"Could it be Souei? But I thought he could only write in kanji... Rimuru maybe? Benimaru doesn't know this location yet." she questioned but put the note away and let her other selves try and figure the note's origins out. Stripping off the now dirty clothes she took it all off and let the pieces fall wherever, the odd ribbon even acting like just another piece of clothing as she got down to her panties and went to take a cold shower, for once not wanting hot water.
Her skin felt like it was burning, even rehydrating after consuming so much booze and little food. Kayo Let out a small moan as it shocked her heated body and strangely became steam once it made contact. "Shit. Are my fire kitsune powers coming out now?" she groaned in misery as her blood felt like it was magma flowing threw her body.
"Lord Veldanava... help me..." she panted before she lost consciousness, only seeing a strange figure come into her space and approach her. The stranger slipping something small and round into her mouth and making her swallow it. The feeling of her body slowly being cooled made her relax, still not knowing who got past her defenses around her little hide away, their intentions unclear.
She was helpless and a bit scared as she faded into a dark void of nothing, no meetings with her shards, but also no nightmares or dreams. The stranger looming over her ominously and a glit from a sharp object in its hand.
~Morning~
"Kayo? Kayo?" an unfamiliar voice called out to her, or at least it sounded odd with her fox ears trying to tune into it, but it was taking an oddly long time. "Hmm?" Kayo groaned as she slowly came to, her mind fuzzy and her eyes unfocused as she stared at the light blue wall of her bedroom. A warm hand on her shoulder gently rolling her over onto her back to look at them. It took Kayo a moment, blinking once as she looked up at an unfamiliar face before she recognized who it was looking at her with so much concern.
"B-benimaru?" she questioned, confused as she looked around and saw Souei looking worried behind the Kijin leader. "Forgive me, he asked where you resided." the ninja told her as Kayo sighed, feeling very tired but she tried to sit up, her whole body feeling like it had been in a tub of ice. Benimaru was helping her sit up and lean against him as Souei got her a cup of water to drink. the kitsune shivered and nuzzled into the red kijin who was shocked at how cold her skin felt, his own body getting even warmer as he felt she had nothing on, and he only had his causal clothes on since he it was his day of rest. Kayo took the cup from Souei carefully and gulped it down greedily before it slipped from her grasp and the Ninja quickly grabbed it for her.
"Do you require more?" Souei asked as he looked worried as the kitsune was shivering badly in Benimaru's arms, she just nodded her head, and her hands gripped the kijin's arm tightly. "So cold." she muttered, not knowing why she was feeling this way, her mind fogy and unfocused, like coming out of anesthesia. The two men were worried and looked at each other before Benimaru scooped kitsune up into his other arm, keeping her wrapped in the pink Sakura flower bed sheets.
"N-no! I'm fine just... just really cold." Kayo protested, blushing when she was completely in Benimaru's strong arms. "Are you sure? Your cold even to the touch." Benimaru told her as he could see her shivering. "Yeah just... need to warm up and hydrate. It's just a hangover." she assured them, questioning how much she did drink before Souei gave her another glass to guzzle down after Benimaru set her back on her bed, but she just slipped into his lap once he sat down. The kijin let her stay there and wrapped his arms around her to help her get warm.
"What happed last night in Dwargon?" Souei asked, as he looked at Kayo's body seeing some discoloration on her upper arms and shoulders, as well as on her knees and shins, the blanket covering her from bust to thighs so they couldn't see any other injuries on her. "Is the King of Dwargon not protecting you?" Benimaru asked, holding her tight until she let out a cute mew of pain when he pressed one of her bruises. "H-he is. This is just from training with him. You think Masker Hakuro is bad? Father is a real demon trainer." She told them honestly, then again, she had been in her dwarf from, and it was much easier to bruise then the dence body of a kitsune. It was also another reason to avoid the pretty dress.
The two men looked unconvinced as Benimaru tried to gently rub her smooth but chilled back, only to get a small moan out of her.
"Please take care of her Master Benimaru, I will inform Lord Rimuru of-" Souei was saying before a cold hand grabbed his wrist. The ninja shivered, better understanding why Benimaru was so worried about Kayo being cold. "Don't bother him with this just... come here and cuddle me~." She nearly begged, looking at him with pleading golden eyes, however his blue eyes glanced at Benimaru who held her with a small frown.
"I already know you two had sex together." she told them bluntly, shocking both kijin, who didn't except that out of her mouth.
"How did you?" Benimaru asked, as he was going to let her go but she only held onto him more.
"She can see the memories at the for front of your mind when she touches you. It's something she got from being the Heir of Dwargon." Souei informed the red Kijin who looked very nervous as he felt Kayo nuzzle into his neck, wanting his warmth.
"Experimenting is fine, we all do it. If you have sex with me or Souei, it's fine. I just... don't want to be alone. I don't care if you really care about me or not... just don't-" Kayo was saying before Benimaru grabbed her chin and made her look at him, her golden eyes met an inferno red and full of sadness before they widen in shock as the kijin pressed his lips to Her's softly. Almost like breathing his warmth into her, the kitsune was feeling better just from the press of their lips, never mind when the kijin got bold enough to lick her lips, and then slither his tongue into her welcoming mouth.
Kayo shivered as they kissed, a hot warm feeling filling her up for what seemed like only a few seconds before the red kijin pulled away, panting from the long kiss, leaving the fox confused. "What... was that?" she questioned as she looked at the blushing face of Benimaru. Only to feel Souei's cool hands on her arms, making her shiver at how good his hands felt ghosting over her bruises along her arms and back, then his lips on her neck had her biting her lip to hold back a moan.
"We care deeply about you Kayo. If you were to somehow become at odds with Lord Rimuru, we would follow you without question." Benimaru told her, the kitsune looked surprised but let out a small laugh as she felt Souei at her back. One kijin keeping her warm, the other keeping her cool. "Words are cheap, let's hope we never find out if your words are true." she sighed and pulled away only to flop onto the bed, the two kijin followed, lying on either side of her and snuggling close to her. Even if Kayo's bed was big enough for all of them, the kitsune didn't intend for anyone else to really sleep with her on it.
~Late Afternoon~
"Those fey are going to tease me about this for months." Kayo sighed as she made her way into the city, having abandoned the heels of course, for flats, hair done in a simple loose braid down to the small of her back, dressed in a light blue tank top, black sweatpants and a matching light jacket that was left open to keep her cool, yet warm without snuggling the two kijin at her sides.
"It's good to see you Lord Kayo, would you like a fresh pastry?" A goblin offered with a smile, already having a fresh red jelly filled pastry wrapped up for the kitsune. "Yes, please!" Kayo excited exclaimed and reached for the treat only for it to be intercepted by Benimaru instead, the goblin only chuckled wearily as the kijin looked at the fresh baked good before glancing at a pouting kitsune.
"Is this why you forget to eat? Because your offered food everywhere you go?" Beniamru questioned, as Kayo tried to grab the treat, holding it out of her reach, being much taller than the spoiled kitsune was one of his few advantages. "No. Come on give it! It's strawberry, Beni~!" Kayo childishly whined as she tugged on the kijin's shirt a little, too exhausted to try and really jump for it. "Lady Kayo, it's not good for you to snack all day. You don't eat breakfast, you snack while you work, you get lunch, snack some more and maybe eat dinner. If you work late into the night you're still snacking. Thus, the cycle repeats itself with little deviation. Your worse with staying hydrated unless you're doing a training day." Souei explained and Kayo froze... thinking for a moment about the bad habits that followed her.
Never mind when her stomach roared from being unsatisfied for too long.
"Fine, can we get lunch then? It's rude to-Sou-sou!" Kayo yelled as she watched the blue kijin devour the strawberry filled treat after taking it from Benimaru. "H-how could you! I love strawberry!" Kayo whined at the loss of the tasty morsel before the ninja just kissed her, the taste of strawberries on his lips. Of course, this was seen by many nearby who looked shocked at the display and a heartbroken dragonewet was crying from her hiding spot as she stalked the trio in curiosity.
Kayo blushed but kissed back, licking his lips that still had the sweetness on them before pulling away with a giggle. "You can just ask for a kiss if you want one. Don't go stealing my strawberries." She notified the ninja who blushed at being found out, Benimaru pouted and leaned down to her level.
"May I have a kiss too?" he asked shyly, and Kayo softly smile before she just kissing him on his lips, even more were shocked as the red kijin held the kitsune close, her tails happily wagging from all the affection. When they pulled away, the red Kijin was blushing from how easy it was to get a kiss. "Now come on. I'm famished. Nothing beats the food in Tempest." Kayo praised as she took their hands and encouraged them to get moving as they went to the mess hall where Shuna was watching over things despite trusting Gob'itchi and the others who helped her in the kitchen often.
"Hey Shuna! What's for lunch?" Kayo asked as she popped into the kitchen, having left her two 'guards' in the dining hall, the pink Kijin smiled as she turned to the kitsune who paled at what the young woman was just chopping up. "Oh! Kayo, it's good to see you. Lord Rimuru found some of the produce that was missing so we are using it for today's lunch. Isn't that great?" the pink kijin asked with an innocent smile but noticed the kitsune pale, slowly back out of the kitchen and leave.
"Huh?" Shuna was confused, and so where the goblins who were also in the kitchens.
~Dining Hall~
"Fuck." Kayo cursed as she was torn between staying to eat with her lovely husbandos or eating bell peppers. "It can't be in everything; and I don't think I'm allergic to them in this life." she pondered before her stomach protested for offerings. "Danm it I should have eaten a bit more before drinking last night." She whined and reached into her void space to pull out a ripe banana. "At least I have my void stash of fruits~." she mussed and started to peel it as she walked over to the two Kijins, sitting between them and eating her potassium rich snack. Ignoring the stares, she was getting for various reasons.
"Good to see you up, aren't you supposed to be in Dwargon?" Rimuru asked as he was trying to figure out where she had gotten the tropical fruit from. The two Kijin's looking at her as she took the strange food into her mouth, both blushing for some reason before she bit it off happily. "Nope. Got the day off. It was a hell of a night; the courts will be busy for a few weeks anyway so I can stay here for a few days till it all blows over." She told the slime as she chews on the lightly sweet fruit, her 6 tails freely waging behind her without a care for who was staring.
"W-why would the Dwargon courts be busy for weeks, Lord Kayo?" Fuse asked, as he had joined the slime for a special lunch, not expecting to see the kitsune again for a few weeks at least since Dwargon was a few days away from their village. Kayo giggled and smirked as she looked at the man who blushed under her gaze. The kitsune having granted him at least a few more decades of life and a semi regenerated body, she couldn't have a late 50-year-old well-seasoned adventure looking like he was in his mid 20's again, late 30's early 40's would do.
"You haven't got word yet? How disappointing, but I guess with a gag order it's not too surprising." She giggled; her memory of the night was amusing before her head started to pound painfully. "Drink this. It should help with that hangover." Vesta offered as he placed a cup with some strange brown sludge substance within the kitsune's reach, already knowing what it was, she took it and shot it back quickly a few gulps before gagging at the taste, her fur standing on end to show her shocked displeasure.
"Gag order?" Fuze questioned, a cold chill coming over him as he tried to think of who could have ordered the silence of Dwargon's nobles, and there were not many who could even think of giving that order.
"Needs Hot Sause." Kayo commented as she handed the cup back to Vesta who sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You drank 3 bottles of Dwargon's premium whiskey... by yourself, danced like a fool, extorted money from 10 nobles, pitted 6 noble houses against each other, exposed the affairs of 13 minsters, flirted with dozens of noble ladies, and dueled with 2 Dwargon knights during the banquet. Please try not to bring any more disgrace upon the Dwargon name, Hades!" Vesta scolded her, frowning at the surprised fox.
"Oh shit. I thought it was only one bottle." Kayo mentioned, not worried that Vesta knew about her dealings as Hades or the other things. Benimaru and Souei looking shocked at the kitsune and a bit worried. "That's what your worried about?" Rimuru asked but was curious what the kitsune had done that night. "I run several breweries; do you really have that little faith in my ability to drink?" She asked, rolling her eyes before Souei held a cup of water in front of her.
"Drink." he told her, frowning with concern. Kayo sighed and just took it.
'What's with the Hades thing? Are you killing people?' Rimuru questioned privately, as Kayo finished the glass. 'No, just collecting what is owed to me.' she assured him, and she handed the glass to Souei who refilled it and handed it back to her.
"Souei, I'm fine. I just need to eat." Kayo softly whined as her stomach roared like an angry beast.
"Oh my! Sorry to keep you waiting, Kayo. I'm sure you're starving after the night you might have had." Shuna giggled as she saw her with her brother and Souei, still confused why Kayo looked a bit pale. Rimuru smirked as he saw the look on her face, he had tricked the fox for once. "Yeah, after having your cooking, nothing tastes the same anymore." Kayo admitted and Shuna blushed at the praise, setting a tray infront of the kitsune. "Well Lord Rimuru told me you would love this. Please enjoy it to your heart's content." Shuna smiled and showed the kitsune what she had made, the fox blinked as she looked at what the young kijin showed her.
The smell alone making her mouth water, but her mind couldn't place where it was from or what it was.
"What is this?" Kayo asked as Shuna giggled, Benimaru grabbed her chop sticks and picked up a strange light brown morsel and some of the light brown noodles. 'Is he?' Kayo questioned, blushing as she saw him blow on the hot noodles a little before turning to her. "Allow me, Kayo." he asked but he didn't need permission to feed the love struck kitsune as she happily ate what he offered, once past her lips and the juices landed on their taste buds the kitsune's tails all fluffed up along with her hair and ears.
"Is it good?" Shuna asked, unsure of the strange reaction as Kayo started to purr and nuzzled her head under Benimaru's chin, the kijin turning red at the strange action but laughing a little as her fur tickled a little. "Tan bueno~, Qué es?" Kayo purred, only confusing the Kijin princess who didn't understand it, but Vesta and Fuze seemed to recognize it, looking very shocked. 'What did she say?' the slime questioned before Great Sage answered him and gave him Multilingual as a skill.
"Oh! It's Twice fried Tofu with udon noodles. I thought you might like it; you've been working so hard I thought you deserved something you've never had before and would enjoy." The slime explained as Vesta and Fuse looked to him. "You understood her!?" Fuse asked, shocked as Vesta looked worried. "That language... it's not used on this continent. Where did she learn it form?" Vesta asked, as Kayo was blissfully ignorant as Benimaru fed her more of the yummy new food.