I Got Reincarnated! - Kitsune Chronicles
~Extra Chapter~ Season's Greetings: Springtime
Kayo was in her office, giggling as she wrote in her personal journal in a strange code that no one in Tempest could read... save for Rimuru thanks to Great Sage. The kitsune's tails where wagging happily as she blushed from her sensual imagination being written down, only stopping when her droll dripped onto the pages.
"Agh. I've really got to get laid~ or something." she muttered, wiping away the evidence of her indulging in her depravity while alone in her office, only for her ears to twitch when she heard a knock at the door.
"Come in." She called out and closed the book, setting it aside as Rigur and Hakuro entered.
"Master Hakuro? Rigur? Is there a problem?" Kayo asked, sitting up as she got concerned with their unplanned visit, not that they would be the first nor last to do so. "No. No problem really, Lord Kayo. We just thought Gobta would be here keeping you company, again." Rigur explained and Hakuro nodded.
The kitsune sighed, knowing what was going on from past experiences.
"Gobta playing hookie again?" she asked and both males nodded.
"You wouldn't happen to know where he might be then? Would you?" Hakuro asked, giving her a stern look that made the kitsune's ears lay flat on her head.
"N-no. Really, I don't know Master Hakuro. Your best bet would be the new food stalls down Ridurd Row. He was talking about trying the food and other ventures he would like to see in Rimuru City last we talked." The kitsune explained, having had a hand in naming a few streets to lessen confusion for travelers.
Both males looked at each other with a nod and then at the kitsune.
"Lord Kayo, if you're not too busy, would you mind helping us find your wayward friend?" Hakuro asked as Kayo looked away, unsure of how to respond. Gobta was her friend, she couldn't drop her work to go find him and make him work. On the other hand, the slaker was supposed to be on guard duty as punishment for ditching his post yesterday to laze about her office.
"I will be sure to tell the foraging team send you an extra basket of berries, Lord Kayo." Rigurd bribed, having noticed Kayo's ears perk up at the offer, only for her to narrow her eyes at the goblin. "You know bribing a government official is a punishable offence now, right~?" Kayo lowly growled... or purred? Rigur only laughed, thinking the kitsune was teasing him.
"Still doesn't stop you from taking half the berries anyway. Even if you use them to make us and the little ones treats, Lord Kayo." he pointed out as Hakuro chuckled. "Then how about I offer you something you will like but can't get on your own?" Hakuro suggested and Kayo tilted her head.
"Oh? And what would that be?" she asked, losing interest before the Sword Master smirked confidently. "I can tell you stories of both the Young Master and Souei when they were younger and more foolish. Stories they would rather I take to my grave." he tempted the kitsune as her tails wagged with obvious interest. "R-really? Well now... hmm~." Kayo was obviously tempted but what morals she had was keeping her from accepting as she crossed her arms under her bust. Having dressed in a lose fitting light gray tunic, a black belt over it around her hips a few small pouches attached to it, with some baggy black shorts that went a little past her knees with only 3 of her fluffy black tails out on display. Of course, she had those familiar black and white stripped sandles that where currently off as she worked with a window open to let in the spring breeze.
Only for it to bring in the scent of the food from the vendors outside to the kitsune's sharp nose.
"Okay, I'll do it. To catch a Gobta we got to think like a Gobta! ¡Vamos a buscar a ese duende holgazán!" Kayo cheerfully added as she slipped on her sandles that made Rigur flinch when he saw them on her feet, but Hakuro didn't know of the terror Kayo's footwear could bring.
~Rigurd Row~
"Lord Kayo! Please try some, it's some of our best product!" called out a goblin vendor as they noticed the kitsune leader out and about. Kayo's ears twitching along with her nose as she approached them, happily handed the yummy looking food to try. "Hmm~ Yummy~!" Kayo praised happily as she ate, many around her noticing and eagerly also wanting to taste what the kitsune leader had been enjoying.
Rigurd and Hakuro watched as the Kitsune easily made stalls popular, giving suggestions to those that were a bit off or having trouble.
"I forgot how much of a glutton you are." Rigur mussed as he shook his head in amusement, remembering the days when just about every goblin in the village would give the little fox a treat whenever she appeared, having become an omen of good luck to the newly evolved goblins and eventually to Rimuru City.
"I am not a glutton. I just enjoy good food. Here, have some. It tastes way better when you share with freinds!" Kayo chirped and offered the hobgoblin some of the street food she was given, of course Rigur blushed, looking unsure about taking food before she just shoved it into his mouth as he was going to answer. Master Hakuro however was able to use his own hands, accepting the kitsune's offering and enjoying the tasty food.
"Oh! The gift shop is open too!" Kayo yelled excitedly and rushed off to check it out, unknowingly alerting Gobta, who was showing their humanoid slime leader how to enjoy a 'day off', giving the goblin enough time to run away and hide with Rimuru. "Huh? I thought I heard Gobta around here." Rigur muttered, confused, having heard the missing goblin's voice from down the street, suspiciously right after Kayo's excited shout. Unsure if the kitsune was genuinely excited by the cute windchimes or alerting the goblin of their location or even just accidently both.
Hakuro followed the excited Kitsune, her golden eyes sparkled as she gazed upon the pastel-colored decorations with childlike wonder, 3 of her tails waging freely behind her. "So pretty~." she giggled innocently, the soft sound warming the old Kijin's heart as he saw the glass ornaments that took on the slime leader's likeness.
"Ah~. Good day, Lord Kayo. Would you like a windchime? Lord Rimuru explained them to me and I'm sure I did his instructions justice." A Friendly craftsmen orc explained, happily greeting the kitsune with a respectful bow.
"Yes, please! They are beautiful, how much?" she asked already reaching for the pouch on her belt, prepared to pay before the Orc held his hand out to stop her, shaking his head with a smile. "Please, accept this as a gift, Lord Kayo. From a humble orc who wishes he could show you more gratitude." the orc voiced as he picked up the Rimuru blue whine chime that she had been eyeing before and gently packing it into a small box for the kitsune. "Oh, thank you. Would it be okay if I paid for the others then? I wanted to get some for my friends too. Your work is coming along great Rudy. Don't sell yourself short, especially with the twins on the way." Kayo praised with a knowing smile, shocking the Orc who blushed and smiled softly before selling her two more wind chimes to give to Shuna and Shion later.
"I can see why they think of you as a good omen, Lord Kayo." Hakuro mussed as the kitsune put away her gifts inside her tails, turning to the Kijin. "Oh? I'm not really, I just know how to make good things happen, the rest is all on them. I'm nothing special really." the young woman brushed it off humbly. "That maybe but belief in something can be just as powerful." he advised the kitsune leader who mulled over his words before they heard Gobta cry out as he ran past the two of them. "Gobta! Get back here!" Rigur called out as he was going after the shorter goblin, only to be stopped my Hakuro.
"AH! Master Hakuro, Gobta is-"
"I know, but let someone with more experience, stop him." the wise Kijin mentioned, and the goblin stared at him in confusion and wonder, expecting the old master to stop his wayward student himself. Hakuro instead turned to the kitsune who watched as her friend tried to scrabble around the many people that had gathered in the street since she had arrived.
"Lord Kayo, would you like to know about a non-combat related talent the young master has?" he asked Kayo as her ears perked and her eyes looked at him with extreme focus, the elderly kijin beckoned her to his level, and she bent down to hear it... her fluffy fox ears twitching as she heard this golden information and gasped. "What!? No way!" she gasped and looked at the sword master in disbelief as he smirked. "Stop that slacker and then you can go confrim it for yourself." he mused before Kayo's golden eyes turned and targeted her dear friend.
"Sorry Gobta, but a deal is a deal." the kitsune muttered before shifting onto one leg as the other raised off the ground, Rigird flinching as his wearily eyes the sandal. "No way... she couldn't possibly hit him from this far away... could she?" he asked, confusing Hakuro and leading him to watch as the young kitsune launched one of her sandals in Gobta's direction... without hitting anyone else... as the sandal beamed the fleeing goblin in the back of the head and the second one... smacked him in the face, knocking him out.
Hakuro stared at his kitsune student, who giggled at her accomplishment, a bit of amazement that she could turn her foot wear into a weapon made him chuckle as she turned to a surprised Rimuru who had been with Gobta until they had been found.
"Hey Slime ball, enjoying your day off?" Kayo greeted the slime as she slipped on a backup pair of the black and white sandles from her tails, Rimuru looking a little bit fearful of the footwear himself now. "N-not really. I got kinda bored to be honest." Rimuru admitted nervously. "What about you? I'm sure your just as bored as I am with no work to do." he assumed, but hearing Kayo scoff told him a different story.
"Official work yes, but there are still some side projects I would like to check up on. Good Luck with Gobta, Rigur. Master Hakuro." Kayo left the two who nodded as they took away a still knocked out Gobta for punishment, slung over the taller goblin's shoulder, the imprints of Kayo's sandles on both sides of his head. "What? Really? What kind of projects? Can I help!?" Rimuru asked, both curious and bored enough to help his kitsune sibling out.
"You played video games and used the internet as a hobby, huh?" Kayo asked, smirking knowingly as Rimuru thought back to his old life... missing his old hobbies and feeling bad that he was turning to the other reincarnation who always seemed to be doing something.
"Well, I was going to the day care since there is no school for the little ones today. I'm sure they will enjoy playing with you slime ball." Kayo teased and pet Rimuru's silverly light blue hair, and he let her since it felt nice. "Sure, I can't believe there is already a new generation of goblins." the slime voiced, really surprised as he walked beside the kitsune threw the village to the small school that had been set up, a short fence around the yard to keep the children in the yard within view of the caretakers.
"G-geld!?" Rimuru questioned, shocked to see the Orc lord being used as a jungle gym with several small goblins and orclings. "Good afternoon, Lord Rimuru, Lord Kayo." the Orc greeted them, seeming out of place as the caretakers watched with fond and amused smiles.
"I didn't know you liked kids." the slime mussed as Kayo let him into the yard and a few children ran up to the kitsune eagerly. "Lord Kayo! Please come play with us!" they asked the kitsune eagerly, gently pulling on her hands as the woman chuckled. "Sorry little ones, I came to drop off some things you guys might like and then carry out my other duties." Kayo told them and patted their heads, Rimuru pouting a bit jealously as his sister got all the attention before he felt someone tug at his shirt.
Looking down, his golden eyes spotted a shy little orcling holding up a wooden tablet in their hands. "Hey there. What cha got there?" Rimuru softly asked and keeled down to the little one's level before they showed the slime a nice charcoal drawing of a fox. "Oh? That looks really cool, did you draw this?" the slime asked a bit confused about why the child was showing this to him. They only nodded shyly as the other kids gasped and giggled as Kayo pulled out some colorful hula hoops and showed the kids how they worked. Then she pulled out some small constrainers with familiar wands, creating colorful bubbles all around them.
"Did you want to show this to my sister?" the slime asked the child who looked of at the busy kitsune as she showed the kids how to blow bubbles. The little orcling looked unsure before Rimuru called out to her. "Hey Kayo. Look at what this one drew." he approached his sister who looked at him in confusion as she looked at the wooden tablet. "Aww~ Sai is this your work sweetie?" Kayo asked as she addressed the shy child by name, they nodded and hid behind the slime who chuckled, amused.
'Wish I knew their names. She must use Catalog a lot.' The slime thought before Kayo came over and took the tablet from him and looked at it with amazement. "Sai? You did this with just charcoal? It's really good, your mother would be very proud of you." Kayo praised and smiled at the child who blushed from behind Rimuru and muttered something that made Kayo's ear twitch.
"What was that sweetie?" she asked and did something with her hands and fingers that surprised her slime brother, even more so when the little orc responded back with their own hands and fingers, making Kayo smile. "Thank you, for the beautiful art work then." the kitsune thanked him as Rimuru handed her the tablet to slip into her void space. "I'll be sure to treasure it and show it off in my office." she told the child who responded with their hands and then ran off to where some more wooden tablets where and some colorful charcoal that surprised the child into making a cute squeal.
"Was that sign language? Where did you learn that?" Rimuru asked, smiling as he was impressed with Kayo knowing another language. "From Myrd, since he's mute. It's a good way to understand him other than just a game of charades. He's pretty bad at it." The kitsune mussed as the slime paled as she gave him that new bit of information about the youngest dwarf brother.
'HE'S MUTE!?'
~Jura Forest Stables~
"Wow! We have unicorns!?" Rimuru asked as he saw the horned horses out in a nice pasture that had a simple looking wooden fence around it. Having walked with Kayo to see the stables where they mostly kept sick/injured animals that are found in the Jura Forest. "Kind of, their still wild animals and there are 10 in total. A momma just gave birth to a foal last night. Wanna see?" Kayo asked with and excited grin as she and Rimuru entered the large red and white building that looked like a stable. Placards on the doors of some stalls that had animals' inside, also caught the reincarnated slime's attention, amazed to see more creatures that called the Jura Forest home, and even some goblins and orcs where around cleaning and taking care of the animals.
"I see you even got help here. Nice to know you're not trying to do everything yourself." Rimuru jabbed but then noticed Kayo drooling as she watched some rather sweaty, muscular Goblins tossing around some hay bales to move them into some clean stalls to make warm bedding for the next animal.
"Kayo? Hello? Kayo!" Rimuru shouted and even pulled on one of the kitsune's tails, not worried about her attacking him or some curse as she jolted out of her day dream and turned to him.
"Ouch! W-what is it slime ball?" Kayo asked, wiping away the droll as her tail slipped from the slime's grasp. "You already have Benimaru and Souei. Aren't they enough for you?" he asked, glaring disapprovingly at the shameless kitsune who shrugged. "I can still apricate a nice body at work, not to mention dem jeans look mighty fine~ too." Kayo mussed as she glanced back at the goblins where of course wearing some nice fitting denim jeans and tight sweat-soaked tank tops, but Rimuru didn't agree before Kayo turned his head to the female Goblins, also in jeans that were gathered around a stall at the far end.
"Jeans are... great~." he agreed as he saw how well the denim jeans as they came closer to see what they were cooing over.
"Oh! Lord Rimuru, are you here to see the baby unicorn?" one asked, a bright smile on her face as Rimuru nodded as he joined them, Kayo easy picking him up to help him see over the tall stable door. Inside was a goblina was gently grooming a white golden maimed baby unicorn, the horn only a cute little bump in the middle of its head. Its mother was much bigger with a long horn and a slivery white mane, a pink tongue licked its foal to try and stand up on its shaky, thin legs.
"Wow~." Rimuru mussed as he saw the little foal takes a few steps and start bucking around, making little foal sounds that the goblinas gushed over. "Want to go in slime ball? Have a closer look?" Kayo offered and the slime eagerly nodded, not thinking about what legends said about unicorns as the kitsune set him down before opening the stable door. Carefully he slipped in and slowly approached the magical animals.
"Try these. They should warm up to you." Kayo suggested and handed the slime some small greenish cubes, the smell alone getting the mother unicorn's attention. 'Of course, you would know what a unicorn eats.' Rimuru thought playfully at the grinning kitsune, turning to the mother who gave him a curious sniff before gently nuzzling his face, much to the shock of the goblinas.
"Want one? My sister made them." Rimuru told the animal and held out one of the cubes, laying in an open hand to avoid losing his fingers. Of course, the unicorn happily munched on the cube she was offered. "Wow, Lord Rimuru I didn't think she would take to you." the goblina that was in the stall voiced, blushing as the little foal trotted up to the slime next also wanting some of that strange treat.
"Yeah? I think it's just the snacks. Kayo knows just what to feed everyone to get them on her side." the slime mentioned as he was licked by the small foal, having heard the kitsune snorting and snickering for some reason. "Oh... I-I mean... unicorns only approach those that are... pure. The mother didn't even want Lord Kayo in here, so she had me come to help with the foal. Since I... don't have a boyfriend." the goblina shyly admitted and it took a while for the slime to realize why the Unicorns liked him, besides the treats.
'I hate you!' Rimuru thought at the kitsune who was muffling her laughter as she took care of the Pegasus, Ivory, King Gazel having left her in Tempest for her to care for as part of her heirship training. 'Hey, it's good for you slime ball. I wanna pet a baby unicorn too~ but they won't let me.' Kayo mussed as she helped clean the winged horse's feathers before they would go out the next day.
~Next Day, Morning~
"I know, Ivory. It's just a bit longer, okay?" Kayo asked the disguised Pegasus as she gave its head a gentle scratch. Both looking just like a normal horse and a human man with a small wagon filled with some wooden crates as they were outside of a small human village. The horse getting frustrated with walking and pulling the cart, two things it was not used to doing as a winged war horse, it whined to Kayo unhappily.
"I'll give you a nice brushing and some treats once back to the stables okay. Not much longer now." Kayo assured it, smiling and waving to a few villagers and children that they passed.
To these humans, HE was a young man named Satoru, who lived near the Jura Forest with his brother. The two having recently found a new home and needed helped with growing their own food instead of venturing into the dangerous monster filled Great Jura Forest for food. However, because Satoru and his brother where lucky/brave enough to venture into the forest, they were able to get some rare and hard to obtain herbs and berries for the village, not to mention Satoru was studying medicine which the villagers happily welcomed. Not to mention Satoru was a handsome looking young man, with long dark hair, tanned skin, a slim yet strong build that was well hidden by the green tunic and brown pants, well-worn brown leather boots on his feet. While a little on the short side, he was still taller than most of the giggling girls who bat their eyes at the handsome young man as he passed.
"Leaving so soon Satoru?" one girl called out, blushing as the golden eyes young man gave her a kind smile. "Yeah, got to get these back home before big brother starts to worry. Stay lovely ladies~." He joked and gave them a wink, making them squeal and blush as the disguised kitsune walked away with the horse and cart into the forest. Once far away enough the illusions where dropped.
Satoru became Kayo, with her fox ears and 3 tails out, the dark green tunic and brown pants fitting differently on her famine frame.
"Okay, hold still. I need to get this off you now." Kayo told the winged horse as she carefully detached the cart from its body, having rode on the winged horse without a saddle to not raise suspicions about her fake persona. Once detached, Ivory trotted away from the cart but stayed near Kayo, flapping her wings a few times as the kitsune swept the cart, crates and all into the void space in her tails.
"Alright, everyone one should be in the fields by now. Let's get these to them okay." Kayo turned to the winged horse who was relived to take to the skies again. The kitsune easily jumping on her back before grabbing Ivory's mane before she took off into a sprint, flapping her wings several time before taking off into the sky, soring high above the trees.
Kayo taking a deep inhale as the wind whipped around her hair that was back into its long, black, white tipped appearance, only held back loosely by her 'ribbon' that wrapped around the longer strands of hair. Golden eyes glittering as she looked at the horizon, the sun shining over the ocean of lush green trees below, the wind blowing the faded scent of storms that she associated with Veldora's power, to the more mellow Spring water and grass scent that smelled a lot like Rimuru.
"I wonder what I smell like. Then again, I would probably have to go a few days without bathing to find out." Kayo mussed but was curious as it seemed like seconds before she could see the fields where Rimuru had planned to start their crops. "A bit too fast there girl, want to take a few laps?" Kayo asked the winged horse who gave an excited noise as they flew around the fields, casting a swift shadow down below.
It startled the goblins who looked up in fear but soon relaxed as they noticed it was their kitsune leader. "Lord Kayo!" Some called out excitedly as the glided over the fields, getting a good view of the landscape and the tilled fields almost ready for seeds and crops.
"Kayo!"
The kitsune heard her name, golden eyes locking onto a hopping blue slime in a straw hat. The kitsune smiled down at him before the winged horse was able to easily land, the goblins all stopping their work to stare in aw at their kitsune leader, most of them having rarely see her, let alone seen her ridding bear back on a Pegasus.
"Kayo! What are you doing!? That's dangerous to ride without a saddle. You could fall and crack open that thick skull of yours." The slime hopped up to her and into her waiting arms, looking up at the grinning kitsune as she gently squished the slime in her hands. "No worries, I know how to ride without even falling off~." She lightly joked, biting her lip as she was trying not to think of that song.
"I see that. Your just in time to help till the fields with us. Did you bring the crops?" Rimuru asked and with a wave of Kayo's tails, there appeared several wooden crates next to her. The goblins stared at them in shock before cheering and clapping. "Amazing Lord Kayo! Are these all from the human villages?" A Goblina, Ririna, asked Kayo who nodded proudly. "Yup, I figured these would work best in the region. There are also a few from further south and some from further west we could try and cultivate." Kayo pointed to the labeled crates as they were opened and inspected, even if they had come out of the safety of Kayo's tails.
"Did you get the rice?" The slime eagerly asked, and Kayo chuckled in amusement. "Of course, and lots of soybeans too but... I've honestly given half to my foxes to try and raise themselves." The kitsune admitted bashfully as the slime nodded, thinking that would happen. "So, I will assume we will have more than enough soybeans soon then? They can be used to make a lot more than just Tofu ya know." Rimuru mentioned as Kayo tilted her head, curious. "Really, like what?" she asked, and the slime seemed proud that he knew something his little sister didn't.
"They can be used to make seasonings like miso and soy sauce, Natto too." he told her with confidence but the kitsune tilted her head in confusion at the last one. "Natto... Natto... what is that? It sounds familiar but I don't think I've ever tried it." Kayo questioned, trying to think of what kind of food that was but drawing a blank as to what the slime was talking about. "Natto is, put simply... rotten beans!" He told the kitsune who looked deeply disturbed at the thought of rotten food, Rimuru looked amused with her disgusted reaction before he heard a gasp that made the slime go pale.
"Lord Rimuru thinks rotten things are good!" Shion repeated excitedly as she made a note of it, much to the slime's horror as he jumped form the kitsune's hands onto Shion's shoulder. "L-let me amend that! There fermented! Fermented! Kayo!" He tried to correct the kijin's notes before he looked to his amused sister. "Sorry Slime ball, you brought that on yourself." she poked him gently, as Shion looked proud of herself. "Look forward to my next meal! The whole table will be covered in rotten things!" She joyfully exclaimed, seeming ignorant of how Rimuru really felt about that 'promise'. "Don't Shion! What are you planning to make from those notes?! Kayo, tell her I was joking!" the slime begged as Kayo walked away to see some goblina's gushing over Ivory.
"Wow this is a beautiful horse Lord Kayo, is she one of yours?" a goblina asked as they saw Kayo. "No, she actually belongs to my- em King Gazle Dwargo, of the Armed Nation of Dwargon. I'm just looking after her for a bit, caves are not the best place for flying after all." the kitsune explained, blushing a little as she almost called the dwarf king her father.
"Are you going to stay and help us with the crops Lord Kayo?" Ririna asked, smiling as she approached the kitsune with interest. "Sorry. I'm actually better with animals then plants to be honest." she told the goblin lord who only put a hoe in her hands and pushed her in the direction of the unplowed fields, Kayo letting her as something seemed odd. "Nonsense, Lord Kayo. You never know until you try." she suggested and they came to the plot where Gobzo was plowing the field alone... and the other 3 where lazing in the shade of a tree.
"Oh... I'll give it a shot then." Kayo understood as she walked into the field and greeted her other goblin friend. "Hey Gobzo. Need some help?" she asked, and the plump lipped goblin looked up and smiled at her. "Lord Kayo, help would be appreciated. Gobtia and the others are meditating really hard for their trianing." he told her as Kayo gave a flat look at the slaking goblins.
"Meditating... Right. Well have no fear, I am here. This should be no problem for us together then." Kayo assured him as he held up a hoe like a glorious weapon, Gobzo gushed and nodded at her words as they started... only, when Kayo brought down the hoe, the ground shook and sent a rather sizable earth mound in the direction of the 'meditating' goblins and tossed them all into the steep ravine with a thankfully the shallow stream at the bottom.
"AGH! What was that!?" Gobta sounded in surprise as the other two were soaked from the knee-high water. Gobzo blinked and looked to an embarrassed Kayo, asking a silent question as he pointed to the now soaked goblins climbing out of the water... and spotting the kitsune culprit. "Would you believe that was honestly an accident?" Kayo asked with a small chuckle, a bit shocked at the results of her trying to plow the ground. After giving it a few more tries Ririna gave her another task that would cause less damage and more suable for the powerful kitsune leader.
~Later~
"Oh~ that's looking really nice~." Kayo giggled as she was admiring the site of Benimaru bent over, planting the rice seedlings in the waterlogged field but also giving her a nice view of his firm backside. "Yeah, this is really hard work. Are you sure you don't want to help?" Rimuru asked as he looked back at the kitsune who was still watching Benimaru plant the last few into the water.
"Sorry, Ririna kinda forbade me from working the fields. I'm better with animals anyway." Kayo admitted once the Kijin was done and the little show was over, she walked over to the end of the field and reached into the water before pulling out a wiggling white snake. "Sorry little guy. It's a bit too dangerous for you here." Kayo cooed at the snake, carefully holding its head so it didn't bite her. "I-is it venomous?" Rimuru asked, shocked to have seen Kayo pull out a snake, and even more so when she did it with her bare hands.
Kayo giggled and smirked at her brother.
"What? Are you scared slime ball? I thought white snakes where a sign of good luck?" The kitsune teased, letting the snake curl around her wrist as it tried to be scarry and hissed at her. "They are, but not if they poison someone." The slime reasoned as Benimaru came closer to see the snake Kayo had captured, amazed she didn't seem to fear the creature.
"It's not going to poison you, even if it could. This kind of snake eats eggs." Kayo pointed out, gently petting the scared creature who seemed to relax. "Are there going to be more around here?" Benimaru asked worriedly and Kayo shook her head. "There shouldn't be. We removed a lot of snakes and rodents from the fields last week, not to mention we surrounded most of the field with some deterrents for pests so it won't be an issue in the first place." Kayo explained as her ears twitched as she picked up the call of crows, glancing in that direction the kitsune only saw two crows quickly flying away.
"Do you happen to have some for crows? They are tearing up the crops I asked Ririna to plant earlier and the scarecrows aren't working." Rimuru asked, hoping the kitsune knew how to handle the birds better than he did, having seen two crows get scared when she just looked at them. "Hmm well that's a tough one. Crows are pretty smart, Deigo's been training a few of them as messengers. Although it doesn't help Gobtia cut down a tree with a crow's nest still in it, their very vindictive." Kayo warned and it made sense to the slime because the crows seemed to egger to rip up Gobtia's Scarecrow.
"Your brother is training crows?" Benimaru asked, impressed that it wasn't only Kayo or Rimuru who could do surprising things. "Yeah, with a bit of training, food and treats they make decent pets too." Kayo mussed as she looked at the calm snake. "This one is kinda small, maybe I should keep it for a bit." she muttered, letting go of the snake's head. Its red eyes looked at her and its pink forked tongue got a taste of her sweet scent, not trying to hurt the kind kitsune anymore.
"Aww~ so cute. Wanna come home with me sweetie~?" Kayo gushed and Benimaru pouted a little as she gushed over the snake, giving it a glare, Rimuru found the kijin's expression amusing.
"Hey! Don't go giving it a name, Kayo. What about those water towers you mentioned? I haven't seen any around yet." the slime asked as he was confused when he didn't see any water towers his sister had run past him while discussing the gorwing of their own crops. "Oh! Your probably thinking of the original design. The final design is a lot different, let me show you." Kayo pipped up excitedly, her smile wide and glowing as her tails swished with excitement, of course she let the white snake free before she walked over to a normal looking tree with several strange taps coming out of it.
Confusing both males as they blinked and tilted their heads as they tried to comprehend what they were seeing, the Kitsune was almost bouncing with excitement. "This is it! Isn't it amazing?" Kayo asked as she pulled out a glass cup and turned the knob sticking out of the tree. At first, the slime thought only sap would come out but was surprised when he saw clear clean water fill the cup as she presented it to the slime.
"Ta da~ Crisp. Clean, cool water. This isn't the only one either, just in case of fires or droughts, these towers will collect rainwater, filter it and store it serval feet underground so there also no need to worry about it freezing in winter. Not to mention the trees give them a nice camouflage so no hulking eye sours." the fox told him excitedly and handed the shocked slime the glass of water as proof. Benimuru also looked at the glass, curious before taking it from Rimuru, gulping the cool clean water eagerly. Kayo's tan face slowly turning red as she watched some water slip from the kijin's lips... and slowly slide down his jaw and neck before caressing his collar bone. Hyper focused on the red kijin she didn't notice Rimuru giving her a disgusted look as he was battered with her fluffy tails before he grabbed one, then pulled.
"Ow!" Kayo yelped as she glared at Rimuru, the slime giving her a flat look. 'Are you going into heat, or did you want to eat Benimaru?' He asked her threw their thoughts. 'Foxes go into heat in winter, but I'm allowed to be a bit thirsty~.' She shot back at the slime, taking the glass from Benimaru as he was finished, looking refreshed from the drink only to watch as Kayo refiled the glass and was bringing it up to her own lips.
"Oi! No indirect kisses!" The slime shouted and quickly took the glass from Kayo, who looked confused and annoyed. "What are you talking about?" she questioned, before processing his words a bit more and she gave a small chuckle. "Really slime ball? Drinking from the same glass is an indirect kiss? What are you, 8?" Kayo teased as she poked the humanoid slime's cheek as he glared at her. Benimaru however blushed at little at what had almost happened, before Kayo turned to him with a cunning smirk.
"Lord Ka-" he was about to ask, only to be pulled down towards her, their lips met in a quick but warm kiss. The kijin froze from the shock, eyes going wide as he saw her golden eyes shut. Kissing him for what felt like forever, making his face go bright red before she let him go and pulled away slowly. Rimuru's jaw dropping in shock from what the kitsune had just done, before she turned to him licking her smirking lips.
"You said no indirect kisses, so direct kisses should be fine, right?" she teased a she noticed the grumpy pouty look Rimuru was giving her.
"No! No kissing at all!" He yelled, crossing his arms and he glared at the blushing Benimaru before turning his head away to mutter something that made Kayo giggle. "Good looking guys always have it so easy." The slime hissed bitterly.
~Break Time~
"Hmm, this isn't good. We took down too many trees and there won't be enough saplings to counter the summer heat." Kayo muttered as she looked at the damage creating the farmlands caused. Projecting a mini scaled map of Rimuru City, the farmlands and the aeras around it, however they were colored red, orange and a bit of yellow to how just how hot the aeras would get coem summer. Despite having talked with Treyni and the other Dyrads about cutting down so many of the trees, it did cause a shift in the environment, something no one would really notice unless they knew what to look for.
"Lord Kayo. You wished to speak with us?" Souei asked as he appeared with the dragonewts he was tasked with training. "Yes, there's a small issue. Two human children have gone missing, their parents haven't seen them for 3 days now. They should be somewhere in the lower south west of the Jura Forest. If you find them, alert one of my foxes. Do not approach them unless they are in danger or dead." Kayo told him sternly, only confusing the dragonewts.
"Why are you sending us there? If they're human, why should we-" Souka asked but got a stern look from the kitsune leader. "Because those kids came looking for me, and I want to know why." Kayo explained sharply. Showing the ninja's, the image of two human children, a brother and sister that looked about 12 and 9 years old. "This is what they look like, last I saw them. They shouldn't have changed much besides the boy having a scar across his forehead that's very recent." the kitsune explained, looking worried for the children. "What are their names?" Souei asked and without thinking, "Matthew and Sarah." Kayo told him and stiffened up. "Don't try and talk with them, they are not very receptive of strangers, let alone monsters." she warned Souei, giving him a glare for what he just did, only to have him nod.
"Let's go." he told the dragonewts as he turned his back to Kayo before she spoke again. "You can help me plant the berries later." she mentioned to him, before her focus was back on the environment images she had been looking at, shifting them a little to try and get a more desired result. She missed the look Souei gave her as he gave a small chuckle before leaving.
Once they left Kayo sighed and used the steel strings skill to clean up the kuni, embedded in the dirt. "He really should be more careful with these." the kitsune muttered as she put the weapons away into her tails for storage.
~Lunch~
"Thanks Shuna, it smells great." Kayo praised as the pink Kijin who had set a lunch plate next to the kitsune who was going over the progress on the crops with Ririna before she left to get her own lunch. "Your welcome Kayo. I made sure yours has a spoon. I know how you struggle with chopsticks." Shuna giggled as Kayo blushed in embarrassment. "Much appreciated." Kayo told her and pulled the lunch closer to her, stopping her work for a moment to chow down on the hot pot and onigiri.
'So yummy~, reminds me a lot of Gunbo~. I wonder if Abiru will allow me to get some crawfish to. Maybe invite him to Mahjong night. He seems a bit lonely and bored according to Bruno's reports.' she thought while she enjoyed the food, her tails happily wagging behind her, her ears twitched as she heard large footsteps approach her. "Lord Kayo... I must ask you something." Geld came up to the resting fox, looking a bit nervous. "Sure, what is it Geld?" she asked the Orc Lord, taking a bite of the onigiri and nearly purring at the taste of the grilled fish inside. "My men found a strange statue where we had set the large boulders that had been in the fields... would it, happen to be your doing?" He asked the kitsune who swallowed her food before responding.
"Yeah, kind of. I was just messing around a little and honing some skills. Sorry if they upset you, I didn't think anyone would find it." Kayo told him softly as she could see tears building in the large orc's eyes. "It's not that Lord Kayo... but... would it be alright to move it here?" He asked her and Kayo tilted her head, unsure of how well the statue of the Orc Disaster in their fields would be received by everyone else.
"WOW! What is that!?" A small goblin questioned as 4 strong Orcs were carrying a massive statue carefully down the path, where it got a lot of attention, mostly from its lifelike size despite the head being the most detailed part of it. "Geld? Did you tell them to move it?" Kayo asked as she set her food aside and got up to question the Orc Lord who also seemed shocked when the 4 orcs passed them and set the statue down near the break aera... the goblins and orc's all staring at the statue in aww and wonder.
"Who is that?"
"Is that an orc?"
"Why is it here?"
The goblins asked, but the kijin were also confused as they didn't recognize the original form of Geld Sr. As he was kneeling and his large arms made a cradle looking down with a gentle look in his rough eyes, a small smile on his face as he as on a thick pedestal that was smoothed out for engraving.
"Kayo... did you make this?" Rimuru asked as he saw the statue, being one of the few non orcs to know what the late Demon Lord looked like, Kayo gave him a nervous smile. "Yes, I was just doing some tests and I needed a subject so..." she motions to the statue. "The orcs brought it here themselves, I had nothing to do with it beyond shaping it. Even now it's still a bit rough, imperfect, and incomplete." the kitsune admitted, looking at the statue she had not yet finished, the gathered monsters whispering among themselves in confusion as the slime getting a devious idea.
"Okay! I'm sure everyone is wondering why this statue is here and who it's of. So to tell you all that. Kayo will explain it since she's the one who made it!" Rimuru announced cheerfully and presented the kitsune suddenly who froze in shock and horror. 'SATORU!' Kayo yelled in her thoughts, looking like a startled deer with everyone looking at her suddenly for an answer. Gulping and taking a few breaths, straitening her posture, before getting her thoughts together to find the right words to use.
"I'm sure many of you are wondering why this statue is here and who it is of. Well, this statue is of Geld's Father, or as you may better know him as, The Orc Disaster." She voiced to her audience, the goblins of course gasping in shock and a bit of horror. Some glancing at Geld who looked ashamed, throwing a questioning look to the kitsune who gave the goblins a stern look.
"Enough! While he may have died The Orc Disaster, he did so just to save his people from death and starvation. He sacrificed his very being to the will of an evil majin, just so his people could survive. A task Rimuru and I have personally taken on ourselves so that such a disaster does not ever happen again." Kayo made herself clear as the goblins looked at her wide eyed and shocked. "Thus, the Orcs felt it appropriate to bring this grim reminder of their past here. For this we have him to thank, for without his dedication to his people, we would not be here. Working the fields that will help feed not only his people but the people of our fledgling nation and future genorations. This statue is a reminder of a disaster that brought us all together, made us stronger, made us wiser, and helped give rise to The Jura Tempest Federation!" Kayo finished and raised a fist up as the goblins and Orc's did the same as they cheered, now understanding a moved by the Kitsune's words.
"Lord... Kayo..." Geld held back his tears as he keeled before the kitsune along with many other orcs.
"Thank you! Lord Kayo!"
They all thanked the kitsune who was shocked and a bit unsure as she glanced as the snickering slime, enjoying her discomfort. "P-please there is no need to thank me. I-it was just something I was fiddling with; it's not even finished yet." Kayo told them bashfully, trying not to blush but her flat ears and low tails gave her emotions away easily.
"Ah~ always thinking of others, I should really get her a good reward." Rimuru muttered, amused as he saw the orcs thanking her as they cried happily, the slime tilted his head and consulted Great Sage for any ideas on what to get the humble kitsune. "Eh!?" Rimuru shouted as his face got red form the answer he was given, getting everyone's attention.
"What's the matter Rimuru?" Kayo asked confused as she was about to go back to her food."N-nothing! Nothing at all!" He laughed nervously and looked away from the confused kitsune before she just went back to eating and going over the plans for the crops before she had to leave for a 'Tea Party', in Dwargon.
~Kayo's Home, Late Evening~
"Agh~ Fuck, that tea party took forever. At least I got more allies in Dwargon now." Kayo grumbled as she entered her little home, not yet noticing that the lights where on as she made her way to her shower, startled when she heard the door close behind her without her closing it. "You're late." Souei scolded the startled kitsune who glanced behind her let out a relived sighed. "Oh? Souei, you scared me. Sorry those nobles in Dwargon have nothing better to do then gossip." She told him before starting to remove the outer layers she had to wear to the fancy tea party.
Taking care of the long sleeveless back over coat that had the Dwargon royal crest on it, under that was a white kimono top with the ends of the sleeves fading into a light blue with a flower petal like pattern on it. Wrapped around it was a light purple colored wrap and a golden cord that easily slipped off Kayo's body as Souei helped her take it off. "Ahh~ I can move again." Kayo sighed happily as she flexed her core, no longer bound by the tight wrap Shuna had put around her. Souei gave a small smile as he watched her wiggle before removing the top that only covered a white tank top that barely hid a dark blue bra underneath. Kayo's golden eyes turned to look at him with a smirk, having slipped into her kitsune from as one of her fluffy tails teasingly caressed his cheek.
"Enjoying the show, kitty~." She teased, giggling as the ninja blushed and looked away. "A little." he admitted, feeling the kitsune's soft tails brush across his clothes as she turned to face him, having set aside her tops.
"Sorry to spoil the mood then but... I need to ask you something first." Kayo admitted, crossing her arms under her bust, looking at the ninja seriously. Wanting to know for sure about the intruder before she could feel comfortable in her little hide away again. "What do you want to know?" Souei asked, confused as Kayo hesitated asking him before they both got the urgent message.
'We found the children! They are being transported in a cage. 5 male humans and 3 other children in the cage with them.'
Kayo and Souei shared a look before disappearing quickly and meeting up with the dragonewts who were watching a small group of 5 men sitting around a camp fire, a large tarp was covering a wagon. Kayo suppressing a growl as she smelled the men from where they were hiding.
'Rotten Humans.'
She thought, narrowing her eyes at the men and running their faces threw catalog for any bounties as she Souei waited on her orders, and the dragonewts awaited his orders. 'Let me deal with them. Protect the children.' Kayo ordered before she took on her beast form, and moved through the shadows at the oblivious men. The kijin and dragonewts got closer, surrounding the small camp to ensure no one could escape, watching as a dark cloaked figure approached the men with deathly silence... then again, the men were being loud and boastful about not being scared of a fox sprit.
"Ha! It sounds like something a sorry excuse for hunter made up. Probably got nipped by a fox and ran away." One man clamed, laughing before the other's joined in. "Yeah, there are plenty of other things stronger than a fox. Like one of those ugly Lizard People things." one of the men reasoned, unknowingly pissing off 6 dragonewts that heard him call their species ugly.
"Ha! You guys are so weak, I could take on one of those dumb Orges. If they hadn't all been wiped out by even dumber orcs that is." another man boasted as the other's laughed, this time pissing off Souei before Kayo cleared her throat. The men of course jumped, startled at her sudden appearance but also... Kayo had slipped on a black kitsune mask, narrow eyes outline in gold like the other marks across the mask around the large grinning face of the sinister mask. A dark blue cloak hiding the rest of her body, making her blend into the dark night.
"H-hey! Who are you!? Don't mess with us!" yelled the leader at the men picked up their weapons, pointing them at the disguised kitsune who moved slowly and flipped a shiny gold coin into the air. "I'm interested in what you have in your wagon. Care to show me?" Kayo asked, suppressing her wrath with giddy as she imaged what to do to these men later.
"Ah! A customer? Well, they're not cheap! One gold-" the leader was saying before Kayo just dropped a small bag on the ground, having slightly opened to expose a small stash of more gold coins. This shocked the men but they only chuckled, one of them came and picked up the bag, a greedy grin splitting their face.
"Well come over here and have a look, I think we have something you might like. It was a pain to get but it's still young enough to train for whatever you like." the leader grinned and put away his weapon like the others, escorting Kayo to the covered wagon before pulling off the tarp that hid the 5 young ones inside. Kayo's nails cutting into the black gloves she was still wearing as she noticed a pair of fox ears and tail among the small scared looking children. Along with the two missing human children where two young dark elves clinging to one another in fear as they all looked at her with wide scared eyes.
"You like the Fox beastmen? She was a hard one to capture, but she had this collar on her that make her really obedient. Wanna give it a try? It will cost ya a bit extra though." the man offered chuckling before Kayo's golden eyes stared at him threw the mask, making the man grow cold and take a step back.
"Interesting~, how much?" Kayo said with a cold sinister tone.
"H-how about 10 gold?" the leader offered before Kayo gave an amused chuckle.
"10 gold? My that is a bargain~ you lot are really not worth all much, are you?" Kayo asked, only she looked at the men who chuckled at her words before realizing what she was really talking about. The 'ribbon' Kayo was still wearing in her hair, let the tarp fall back over the cage to hide the children... and not show them what the fox did to their captures to make them scream and beg for their lives.
"S-should we really let that one escape?" Souka asked, shakingly turning to Souei after seeing the horror that Kayo had unleashed on the humans, keeping them alive. The kijin nodded as he noticed Kayo had let one slip past her for some reason. "She let him go for a reason. Don't question it." he advised before he and the others came out, looking down at the 4 men who were knocked out cold in terror. The menacing black void kitsune glaring at the men with several dark tendril shadows waving around her as the men's campfire barely lit up the aera.
"Kayo, calm down. Are the children safe?" Souei asked, unflinching as the kitsune golden eyes turned on him, and softened as the dark shadows retreated and a large fluffy black and white furred fox was in front of them. "They should be, but that collar might be a problem." Kayo sighed as she tried to calm down, blushing under her black fur as Souei gently pet her head.
"Nya~." she let out that soft noise, much to the kijin's amusement as he gave a small chuckle. Kayo gave him as small glared before she took her humanoid from, dressed in just that whit tank top and some black slacks, her boots having been discarded leaving her bare foot as she grabbed some keys from one of the men to unlock the cage. The young one's inside looking terrified as they had heard the screams and didn't recognize the kitsune woman.
"It's alright, I'm not here to hurt you. Matthew. Sarah. It's me, Kayo Tempest. Don't be-" she was saying before the two human children launched themselves at her crying, the kitsune was unprepared for it and fell backwards into Souei who helped her stay on her feet as the children clung to her.
"There, there, you're okay now. Let it out." Kayo soothed them softly as she let them cry, the other 3 looking at her still with fear... or Souei who stood behind her like a loyal guardian. Once the two siblings stopped crying the younger sister opened her eyes and spotted the kijin. Her eyes going wide as she gasped.
"Miss K-kayo! Is he your boyfriend!?" the little girl whispered yelled, surprising the kitsune who blushed a dark red, trying to think of how to explain it to the children. "Yes, I am." Souei answered for her, making the little girl gasp and her eyes sparkle. "He's really handsome Miss Kayo! Even if he is a horrible monster." Sarah giggled as her brother siffled and tried to look brave, pulling his sister away from the Kijin as Kayo looked at the other 3. The elves where scared of course but the fox beastman looked at Kayo in aww.
"What's your name little one?" she asked kindly as she noticed the girl's single tail.
"M-my name is Po, Ma'am. Thank you for saving us." the little fox thanked her, giving her a weak smile as the kitsune eyed the collar around her neck with worry.
"What is that?" Kayo asked as she touched the strange thing only to stop as her left eye turned black, scarring the young fox who felt an evil energy come from the woman. "Good to know. Now can you break it?" Kayo asked, confusing the fox before the ribbon that held back her hair turned into an arm. The fox, Po, flinched and closed her eyes as the strange hand went for her neck... and broke the collar.
"Huh? It... it broke?" Po questioned in amazement as she saw the arm change back into a ribbon as the kitsune woman smirked. "Good boy. I'll think of a reward later." she soke to someone else as her left eye change back, giving the young fox a smile like nothing had happened. "Now let's get you kids home, okay?" the kitsune reasoned and undid the other shackles on them before arranging some things and making sure the kids were unharmed and fed.
~Later~
"Your very good with children." Souei pointed out as they returned to Kayo's home, and the kitsune flopped onto her bed, amusingly with her backside in the air as she crawled over to her pillows to nuzzle her face into. The kijin looked away as Kayo slipped off her top, bra, and even the slacks, letting the pool off the edge of the bed, now in only some matching dark blue panties.
"Souei, before you brought Benimaru here... did you encounter anyone?" the kitsune asked, cuddling the pillow to her naked chest, even if she trusted the kijin he was still looking away from her. "I did not. I only saw you lying in bed, soaked with sweat despite your body being so cold. Your natural scent... is every nice." he told her, making Kayo blush but also worry.
"That night... someone entered my home while I was showering, the fairies were knocked out by some mist that filled the place before I came." she told him, trying not to shake and hoping her guess was correct. "What?! Didn't any of your alarms or barriers keep them away?" Souei questioned and looked at his kitsune mate, seeing her shivering slightly before he came over to her as cupping her face to look at him, fearful golden eyes looked into his calm blue orbs before they turned to cold anger.
"I'm not for sure how they did it. They could have either been told about this place or been close family like my siblings... or..." Kayo explained, tears in her eyes as she let go of the pillow and grabbed onto the kijin who let her, wrapping his arms around her to give her some comfort.
"Please... stay with me?" she asked him and the kijin pulled away from her... only to take off his clothes down to his underwear while Kayo watched with undivided attention before he returned to her, placing a kiss on her forehead.
"Y-you know you don't have to sleep with me naked... right." Kayo asked blushing as she lay on her stomach, already under her light blue sheets before Souei joined her and held her close, a dark blush covering her face as she rested her head on his chest, over the kijin's steadily beating heart. "Yes, but you like this, and this is comfortable." he told her, a small smirk on his lips as he ran his hand threw her dark locks, strangely finding some odd sliver strands among them as he felt her weight relax on top of him, her breathing calm and slow.
~Extra Chapter End~
Translation: Let's find that lazy goblin!