I Got Reincarnated! - Kitsune Chronicles
~Extra Chapter~ Day of Sprits and Bonds
"Kayo, you look amazing~!" Shuna praised as Kayo happily indulged the young kijin in dressing up since it seemed to be just the two of them at the moment, the kitsune woman trying on various outfits that the talented young kijin had recreated.
Kayo was giddy as she looked down at the shrine maiden uniform that was near identical to Shuna's, her tails happily waging behind her as she moved around in it excitedly. Despite it looking much different on the older woman, the white kimono top hugged her large chest, a red ribbon helping keep it closed, as the black belt with a light blue rose was hugging her middle, the red skirt easily clinging to her wide hips, the red sash loosely wrapped around her with the slits at her hips showing off a bit of the white kimono underneath, her hair tied back into a simple loose braid, and her feet bare as she danced around the room, enjoying the outfit.
"Thanks, Shuna. I've always wanted to try on one of these. It's so~ comfy too!" Kayo mussed and pulled out a white fan with Rimuru's slime form on it. Covering the lower half of her face as he ears lowered, looking away shyly as she spoke in a soft voice that almost imitated Shuna's voice. "Do you think... Lord Rimuru will allow me to serve him now?" she asked and looked at the shocked female kijin... who wasn't alone as Shion had walked in, carrying Rimuru himself in her arms, starting the kitsune as she hid her face behind the fan as she blushed from her little impulsive action. "Wow! You look great Kayo, maybe next year you can help Shuna with the Tanabata." Rimuru voiced as he had watched how the kitsune had easily danced around the room while dressed as a miko. Kayo popped her head over the fan in confusion, her ears twitching.
"Tanabata? What's that?" she questioned, as the two kijin and slime blinked at her in confusion before they realized their mistake.
"Oh crud! Sorry, Kayo! I completely forgot you were stuck in Dwargon when we had it. Tanabata is also known as The Star Festival, where you write your wish on a colorful piece of paper and tie it to a bamboo branch. Then the stars grant your wish." Rimuru informed the reincarnated otaku sagely, before he noticed the horrified look on her face. "S-s-star festival!?" She questioned, paling as she realized that her slime brother may have done something for the Star King, possibly without realizing it. "Did... Veldora suggest this?" Kayo questioned, switching to her mother tongue the two kijin didn't know, only confusing the slime. 'No. It's a tradition from Japan. How would Veldora know about it?' He responded to her strange question as she fell to her knees, keeping her head down.
'Never mind, but next year count me in!' She was thinking as she took a calming breath.
"What brings you here then slime ball?" Kayo asked, trying to change the subject. "Well, I wanted to run an idea by you for another festival, since the summer festival was so amazing with your help!" the slime chirped happily and bounced out of Shion's arms into Kayo's lap, letting the kitsune pet him for a moment, the two female kijin looking on with a bit of envy. "Sure, what will it be this time?" She sighed, giving a soft smile as the slime was very relaxed in her lap, he almost seemed to be asleep. "A Bon festival, a day to give thanks to our ancestors and reconfirm our bonds with our families and clans." The slime told her softly as he enjoyed the warm pats before Kayo stopped and stared at him. "Day of the Dead?" Kayo asked and the slime looked confused for a moment. "Day of the what?" He questioned, unsure if he had heard her right as the two kijins looked confused and shocked as well.
"Well... Day of the Dead is a little similar, only we remember those who have left this world, celebrating life rather than death, as they are never truly gone so long as we remember them. We leave offerings of their favorite things at their pictures so that they may still enjoy them in the afterlife." Kayo told them, looking sad as she felt a bit cold, shivering as a feeling of isolation hit her even with her slime brother right in her lap.
"Oh~ why not do both? It sounds like it could be a nice tradition we can mix together for something new. You're also a leader of Tempest, so you should come up with festivals for us too. Stop slacking off!" he scolded her playfully, making the kitsune huff in amusement but Shuna gave him a stern look. "Lord Rimuru, with all due respect, Kayo does plenty of work for the village. She works tirelessly in her office day and night. The villagers love and respect her almost more then you." the pink kijin scolded sternly, not aware that it was a joke, the slime sunk back into Kayo's midsection before he was picked up and Kayo gave his slime body a warm kiss that tingled nicely, making him blush.
"I'll be sure to work harder, Rimuru-nii-san~." Kayo called him and the slime nearly melted with how cute she looked when she called him big brother.
"Lord Rimuru... may we kiss you too?" Shion asked as she and Shuna looked at the siblings with envy, making the slime tense before he turned to Kayo for help. "No! Only I can kiss my big brother! I won't allow another woman or man to kiss him!" the kitsune told them firmly as she held the slime protectively to her chest, glaring at the kijin women who stood up and approached their leaders. "Please, Kayo-nee-chan~?" Shuna asked with a cute begging look tossed at the weakened kitsune, who had a weakness for being called big sister by those who appeared younger than her. "Kayo! Don't give in to her cuteness!" Rimuru pleaded as both women reached out to try and grab the slime only to miss as Kayo slipped out of her clothes and into her 'beast' from that was as large as Ranaga, holding the slime with two of her three tails.
"Ah! Lady Kayo!" Shion called out and lunged for the kitsune only to have her easily doge and run away with the relived slime. "I'm not letting her get away with Lord Rimuru!" Shion declared with a passion as she tried to run after the cunning kitsune. With Shuna left behind, she picked up Kayo's clothes only to gasp in shock as she found the kitsune woman's undergarments within the discarded clothes...
"K-kayo is... she's..." the young kijin blushed dark red as she thought of the woman running around in the nude, despite it being in her natural furry, fox form.
~Later, Rimuru City, Town Center~
"So on that note, tomorrow and the next day will be a new holiday called, The Day of Sprits and Blood." Rimuru announced as he sat on top of Kayo's head, since even sitting down regally on her hind legs with three of her tails wrapped around her paws, the kitsune towered over the orcs and the buildings too if she wanted to. The slime was overlooking the residences that had been told to gather before them. Some looking up in aww at the large black kitsune form of Kayo, being large enough to make their slime leader look like a little hat on top her head.
"The Day of Sprits... and Blood? What's that about?" Gobta questioned, voicing everyone's confusion as Kayo answered in a soothing voice, careful of her volume in her large form. "We intend it to be holiday to give thanks to our ancestors and remember those who are no longer with us. The Sprits. Yet, we must not forget the ones who are still with us, to strengthen the bonds we have now within our families and clans. The Blood, to put it simply. This also applies to chosen family, no matter your race, we are also a family to each other here." Kayo explained as eveyone stared at the kitsune in aww as Rimuru nodded, pleased with her explanation of their new holiday.
"Our town doesn't have much of a history of its own, but all of you living here have histories, right?" The slime questioned, letting his words resonate threw their minds. "So once a year, you should have a party with your own kin to talk about your people's origins. Share stories of the past with your families and siblings. To remember those, we lost because they are not truly gone if we keep them in our thoughts and hearts." The slime voiced as Shuna and Benimaru looked to one another as did Gabiru and Souka, both pairs of siblings seeming to warm up to their leaders' idea.
"Our clan's own..." Rigurd started as he and his son Rigur excitedly added "Party?!" the two goblins looking excited at the idea as Kayo's golden eyes scanned threw the crowd of monsters with some confusion, but the kitsune hid it until she could talk with the slime privately, seeing some strange flames around a few monsters.
"Once you know about your history, you can teach each other about it and deepen your bonds with everyone you know." Rimuru added happily as everyone seemed onboard with their leaders mix of two traditions from their past lives. "How do we celebrate? Do we have to drink blood and... face sprits?" Gobtia questioned, looking a bit scared, thinking of Hakuro's training that already felt like a fight in hell. "No. It's more like what we do with every festival, Gobta. With lots of food and fun!" Kayo chimed in, amused as she turned into her humanoid form in a swirl of black mist. Pumping up her right fist in excitement as her other arm captured the falling startled slime who had not expected the sudden transformation. Shuna gasped in panic but let out a relived sigh as the kitsune leader did have clothes on, a simple light blue tunic and brown pants.
"Shuna? Is this something wrong?" Benimaru asked his sister confused as she shook her head as smiled at him. "It's nothing important but... I would like to see the memorial Kayo left for our village." she mentioned, looking at the ground as she recalled how they had fled their home during the orc attack. Benimaru gave her a soft smile as he nodded, glancing at Kayo for a moment before she left with their slime leader with the youngest dwarf brother.
~Rimuru's Retreat~
"I hope you'll like it, slime ball. Evey leader needs a little space to themselves, some room to decompress and relax." Kayo mussed as she carried the slime to a mysterious wall partly hidden in a bamboo forest that had been cultivated mostly because Rimuru liked the familiar grass. The kitsune slid the Japanese inspired wooden door aside and let the slime get a look at what the wall had been concealing.
"Ohhh~ Is that a koi pond!?" the slime questioned as he bounced around the small yard with a few plants, like the Tempest Roses Kayo had created, small trees and decorations around it and a small little Japanese hut. Kayo giggled as she watched the slime act like an excited child. "Wait till you see the inside, it's just one room but it should be more than enough for you." the kitsune mentioned, her tails waging behind her excitedly as she opened the front door to the little hut... of course there was an aera for shoes with a Maneki-Kayo greeting them, flanked by some small light blue vases with some simple flowers in them.
While Kayo took off her boots at the entrance, making them disappear in a black mist, the slime happily bounced into the tatami aera.
"Yay! New tatami! This tight relaxing space feels a lot like a secret base!" Rimuru gushed as Kayo watched d him roll around on the 6 tatami mats. "Nothing Fancy, nothing pretentious, no way to get bored!" he gushed before he stopped rolling around, the kitsune smirking as she had made a few surprise additions to the humble looking hut, so the slime could be surprised later on or disappointed that his simple space was not so simple after all.
"It's like the cheap apartment I lived in when I first moved to Tokyo." The slime voiced as Kayo pat him on the head softly... getting a look at what the life of Satoru Mikami had been like, on his own for the first time without his family. He was alone, having turned to manga as a source of comfort from his lonely life. "Maybe I haven't changed on the inside at all... well I wouldn't want to forget where I came from. Hm? Kayo? Are you crying?" Rimuru asked as he felt something pop onto his head.
Kayo was shedding tears and pulled the slime into her arms lovingly as he wiped her tears away. "Hey, come on don't cry. This is a great gift. I really like it!" he assured her as she held him closer. "It's not that... your memories... from that moment. Your parents and brother loved you a lot, you were too stubborn to take money from them or let them set you up in a nicer place." Kayo mentioned as the slime blushed when she mentioned the events that led up to him moving out on his own. "If you ever feel lonely, you can always come with me and my fox siblings, we will make you feel welcomed. You are my brother after all... my home is your home." she told the slime who felt warm all over. "...but you worked hard on this place. I would hate for it to go to waste." he mentioned as he looked around, a bit envious of Kayo for having siblings in this new world.
"I know, and I added a few secrets you can find. So things can always be interesting but I want to show you one of them." Kayo mussed as she had the slime's attention as they walked out to the porch that wrapped around most of the simple little hut before Kayo shifted back into her kitsune form... being just a bit bigger then Rimuru as he followed her to some Tempest Roses that were growing beautifully against one of the wooden walls, concealing a small wooden flap that could fit a small fox... or a slime.
Kayo slipped through first and the slime didn't hesitate and followed her into a small bamboo yard that was covered in sand, at the center was a statue of a familiar person...
"S-shizu?!" The slime questioned as the kitsune sat by the white statue of the woman the slime had loved and lost. The woman's image captured perfectly as she was kneeling, giving the slime a warm smile even as he came closer, he could see a lot of detail and care his kitsune sister had put into it. "I thought... this would be appropriate for our new holiday. That she's at peace and wishing you happiness." Kayo reasoned as she produced a simple tray filled with some fruits as well as offered the slime some lavender incents sticks.
"Thank you, Kayo. I'm glad you're my sister." Rimuru voiced as he marveled at the statue and picked up one of the sticks, holding it out to Kayo as she used one of her tails to light it on fire, doing the same with another. The slime making two small nubs and clapping them together twice, bowing his body. She imitated him using her paws, bowing her head as well. 'Please... let this be the right thing to do. I hope you're watching over my brother carefully, Miss Shizu.' Kayo though as she stayed with her slime brother, only wrapping a comforting tail around him, making him feel a little less alone with her fluffy warmth.
~Later, Kayo's Office~
"The other leaders approved of your idea, but are you sure he's going to accept it?" Antony asked as he placed a black box on his sister's desk. Kayo sighed as she sat back in her chair looking up at the ceiling, arms crossed as she tapped her elbow, trying to think of how Rimuru would except the 'gift' from the kitsune siblings. "Hmm, well he either rejects it and we look like mad fools for offering it, despite him trying to turn it down gently. It is an... unusual gift and it might just be symbolic more than do anything meaningful. On the other hand, if he accepts... he might very well become our true brother." she reasoned, unsure if her strange idea would work, or be received well. "You could always give it to him in private." Antony suggested as Kayo looked at him and shook her head. "He would be more inclined to reject it. I wouldn't push him to take it if he really doesn't want to. We could just return to our old home and burn it together." the void kitsune suggested with a tired sigh.
"That's the backup idea. You're not alone sis, we also agreed to your weird idea together. If you think this would give some meaning to-" Anthony was saying before there was a knock at the door to her office.
"Pardon us~!" Came Shuna's voice threw the door before they opened for her, Estella and Carmen with her carrying trays with freshly brewed coffee and Carrot cake. "Shuna? What brings you here?" Kayo asked, confused why her sisters where giggling and grinning. Setting down a mug of the coffee she enjoyed, as well as a beautiful carrot cake that had a whipped cream vines and Tempest roses decorating it. 'Why am I getting a bad feeling?' She questioned, shivering even if the room was warm, Shuna was innocently smiling at the mature woman who eyed her suspiciously. "What's the occasion?" Kayo asked as she eyed the carrot cake, Carmen pouring her coffee, adding the cream and honey as she liked.
"I just wanted to thank you for all you hard work. Lord Rimuru said you didn't like big grand gestures but small meaningful ones." The kijin explained as she put a hand over her heart, but something seemed off to the kitsune as she carefully took the mug her sister offered her, taking a careful sip. "Also, I wanted to ask if you will be joining us tomorrow. That way I know how much food to prepare for everyone." She asked innocently, confusing the kitsune leader.
"Tomorrow? Isn't that the start of The Day of Sprits and Blood?" she questioned, confused before the kijin princess plated a nice big slice of the carrot cake, making the woman gulp nervously as the pink haired girl didn't set it on the desk within her reach. "Yes, it is. Will you be joining us? Since we already consider you to be the Kijins Mistress already." she tilted her head, still smiling but Kayo was still playing dumb, not wanting to believe what the young girl was saying. "If you mean to the Oni village grave maker... then I'm afraid I'm going to have to say no." Kayo told her as this answer made the girl frown in disappointment.
"Is it because brother hasn't proposed to you yet? Or Souei?" Shuna asked, as Kayo was taking a sip of coffee, making the kitsune choke on the hot brown liquid violently. "Is that it? I will go make sure brother proposes to you-" she was saying before Anthony placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, she looked up at the giant kitsune in confusion, while his size was intimidating, however the young kijin learned that he was a kind and relaxed person who cared about his siblings. "It's not that, Lady Shuna. We're also her family and were planning something for tomorrow. Maybe once we get back, she could join you?" He suggested and the princess felt a little ashamed that she had forgotten Kayo had her kitsune siblings. "Oh!? Then what are you going to do with Lord Rimuru? Are you not going to be with him as well?" she asked, a bit curious and worried for the slime who had been rather quiet since he got back from his retreat.
The kitsunes looked to each other for a moment before Estella told her any way. "We are going to make Lord Rimuru our official brother! We managed to retrieve our-" she was saying before Carmen covered her mouth and Kayo gave her a look. "O-official brother? How?" Shuna asked, looking nervous as sad, placing the cake in front of Kayo gave her an assuring smile. "Don't worry I'm not going to have him marry one of my brothers, that would be to cruel for the slime ball." Kayo joked, making Shuna giggle, putting a small smile back on her face. "How else are you going to do it then?" She asked, Kayo just ate the yummy carrot cake to avoid the question before Shuna cruelly slipped the slice away. "Are you really going to do this?" Kayo asked, giving a soft whine as her ears flattened to her skull as she pouted. "Please, just tell me how you are going to make Lord Rimuru your official brother." she asked, and Kayo sighed.
"Fine. I'm going to give him something our mother left behind, it's... going to be more symbolic than anything really." Kayo reasoned nervously, not wanting to tell Shuna what it was but the princess was still curious as she was about to ask again but noticed the grim looks on the Kitsune's faces. She widely dropped the matter and let Kayo enjoy her carrot cake, the princess leaving the kitsune's office quickly.
The kitsunes looked at the box on Kayo's desk unsurely before it disappeared into their sister's tails until it would be needed for their ceremony.
~Later, Rimuru City~
Kayo was walking around the village alone to clear her head, greeting a few residences, checking some shops, buying a few potions for her personal stock, having some food offerings, and generally just out for a pleasant walk with no real destination in mind... yet somehow, she ended up at the grave marker she made with Rimuru after Shizu's passing. The pile of rocks almost as tall as she was, making the kitsune crack a small smile. Kayo pulled out another small rock out of her tail, placing it with the others to show her respect. She clapped her hands and bowed her head, letting out a slow stress filled sigh.
"I hope you are at peace, Shizu. Maybe in your next life you could be with-" the kitsune was saying before she looked up and saw a familiar form, bit transparent against the view of the monster city. She blinked several times and rubbed her eyes before looking back at this strange form that had turned to look at her with a confused look. "What the? Is this a hallucination?" she questioned and approached the woman... her right eye taking on a pearlescent sheen, unlike her demonic left eye, but both narrowed on the ghostly form that took on Shizune's appearance.
'C-can you... see me?' it questioned, looking shocked as it stared back at the suspicious kitsune, her ears twitched as she heard the familiar voice. "Shizu? How is... Oh Great Lord Veldanava! Don't tell me I can see and talk to ghosts now!" She groaned before she heard a familiar male voice speak to her.
Soul Seer has been upgraded to Sprit Conduit: this allows the user to see and speak with souls as they had seen themselves in life as well as how the sprits to others using fox fire.
'Well that explains some things.' The kitsune thought in her confusion as she looked at the Shizu sprit again, the woman's ghost looking just as confused. 'Who are you? I don't think we've met... Kayo!?' Shizu shouted as the Kitsune shifted into her small 3 tailed kit form. The woman had her hands over her mouth in shock as she kneeled to get closer to the little fox who slowly came up to her. Reaching a hand out, the sprit tried and pet the little kit's head... the warm soft feeling of her fur oddly reaching the woman as she gave a happy giggle, as the little kitsune gave a small squeak at the chilly feeling on her head.
Kayo was thinking of how to handle this new ability, and what to do with it as she looked up at the smiling ghost. "Hey Shizu... can you help me out with something?" Kayo asked carefully as the woman stopped petting her and looked at her in shock. "I'm going to try something so, bear with me okay." she requested as blue flames sparked from her tail tips, the woman looked shocked at what the kitsune was trying to do.
~Next Day, Kayo Village, Twilight~
"That looks about right." Kayo muttered as she inspected the female oni statue she had just carved, having learned the skill from the dwarves that helped her craft some other special items before she used anything more valuable than wood scraps. Only this time she used the wood from the special trees she grew in her void space to crave the little statues that would serve as a medium for what she was planning. "What do you have there, sis?" Anthony asked as he yawned, having woken up to see his sister sitting out on the castle forts porch carving little figures. "An... Oni statue." Kayo told him, blushing as she didn't want to lie nor admit what she was doing, having been practicing with Shizu, who sat beside her admiring the beautiful but deadly garden of the kitsune village castle.
"Oh? Are you planning on giving it to one of your mates?" he asked with a small smirk, sitting next to Kayo, opposite of the female sprit who was contently petting the Kitsune sprits that still lingered around the castle. "N-no. It's for the marker, a lot of Oni died. Men, women, elderly, children, just a little over 300 lived in that village... and only 6 survived the disaster." she told him and the smile melted from his face. "So your making statues for each one then? Why?" He asked, looking at Kayo's hands as he saw the blood dripping from her fingers as she just worked on another carving.
"Who else would acknowledge their lives and their death? When I went there with Souei... I could feel something lingering there, like their sprits couldn't move on. Trapped by regret and sorrow." Kayo mentioned as she carefully carved the last Oni statue before she and her siblings would head out. Antony looked at her worriedly before offering his sister a low potion. "At least heal those cuts before you stain them with blood." he told her as Kayo blinked in confusion, looking at her hands she cursed herself for not realizing it. "I'll be fine, I bought some potions today too. What time is-oh!" Kayo put the piece of wood away and pulled out a low potion to splash on her hands, only to look up as she had asked for the time, realizing it was very late.
"Get some sleep. You're out of coffee remember." Antony reminded her as the kitsune grumbled at her brother's words. "Fine. I can finish this one later..." she said and glanced at Shizu and the foxes. 'I'll be fine. You're still alive so you need to rest well, little Kayo.' The woman told the kitsune with a soft smile, not in a hurry to complete what Kayo had planned for the unique Obon festival. The Void kitsune nodded to her before yawning, going into the castle to get a bit of sleep before making the long journey to their old home, with a few other stops along the way. Trusting her kitsune siblings with preparing for their trip as she rested.
~Afternoon, Lunch~
The kitsune's where all enjoying lunch together, along with the fairies, elves, and some forest sprits that shared their hidden home with the foxes. Soft chatter and laughter were heard from the kitsune's mess hall as they had made offerings to the fallen kitsunes who watched as their family and friends shared stories. Shizu listened to them with a fond smile, having happily overheard a few of the kitsune's stories, but also feeling horrified upon learning what had happened to Kayo's family before meeting Rimuru.
"I'M UP!" Kayo yelled as she ran into the mess hall, her hair messy and with just a simple black and red yukata with a white sash loosely tired around her waist, leaving her black panty and bra set partly exposed to her entire clan only she stopped to soon and tripped, landing face first onto the floor ungracefully. The Japanese woman blushed but was also looked concerned for the kitsune who groaned more from tiredness then pain.
"You okay sis? We saved you some food." Bruno asked, laughing as he poked his sister carefully.
"Yeah, how long was I asleep for?" Kayo asked as her brother helped her up and closed her yukata over her chest. When Kayo noticed she blushed darkly, her ears folded onto her head. "It's lunch. You slept past breakfast. What where you up doing last night? Or Who?" he joked with a smirk before Kayo punched him for it but they both laughed, sitting with the rest of their siblings at their own table eating lunch.
~Rigur and Rigurd~
"Father... is this?" Rigur questioned as he had followed his father to a familiar place where there was a small shrine under a tree. The older Goblin was quiet as he placed some familiar fruit before the shrine, along with a goblin plushie that that smiled at the two. "This is where your brother died in my arms... giving his last breath to help us survive the dire wolves." the goblin king voiced, making Rigur's wolf partner whine in shame besides him. Rigur placed a hand on their head to assure them, having long thought of the tempest wolf as part of his family ever since Kayo had paired them. The two goblins lit some incense, praying that their son/brother was at peace and watching their small village grow, the wolf bowing his head next to Rigur. All three unaware of the sprint watching them with a sad smile.
"Rigurd! Rigur! I'm glad I caught you." Kayo appeared, her siblings not far behind her as she came up to the goblins who looked up from their prayer in confusion. "Lord Kayo? What brings you here?" Rigurd asked, confused as he looked down at the small black fox in front of them. The goblin sprit also looked at her confused as his eyes widen when he noticed the fox was looking right at him!
"Do you want to speak with them Rigur?" Kayo asked the sprit who was shocked but gave a nod, Rigur II looked confused at what his leader had just asked of him. "Speak with whom Lord Kayo? Your siblings?" He asked, confused what the kitsune was talking about but noticed her looking at the shrine and not at him. He looked to his father for answers but the older goblin seemed just as confused as his son.
Kayo stuck her head into her void space and carefully pulled out the carefully crafted goblin statue, placing it before the alter. Sitting on her hind legs she clapped her paws together with her head bowed before her golden eyes looked up at the goblin sprit who slipped into the special statue without a fuss. Father and son looked on in confusion as they saw blue flames lite up the tips of Kayo's 3 tails before they lit the small statue on fire, but it didn't burn... it morphed and turned into green flames and got bigger, both goblins backing away in confusion as the flames took on a familiar form.
"N-no... it... it can't be!?" Rigurd asked, eyes and mouth opened in shock, falling to his knees as a tear escaped his eyes. "R-rigur?" he called his eldest's name as the green flames took on the shape of a gobin they recognized... Rigur II gasped as he realized what the green flames where, as they smiled at the two goblins. "Hi dad... Little brother. It's... good to speak with you again." he said with a sad smile and looked at Kayo who sighed in relief. "Okay. You guys have 30 minutes to talk. That's my limit unfortunately." she told them and was walking away before she was grabbed by the elder goblin into a tight hug. He sobbed loudly as he hugged the struggling kitsune, thanking her for the opportunity to talk to his eldest again.
"Should we help her?" Bruno asked as he looked to Antony who shook his head, amused by the goblins hugging and crying over their sister.
~The Kijin, Oni Village Memorial~
At the end of a simple path winding threw a thick bamboo forest was a large stone with a single kanji in memory of all the fallen Oni, surrounded by a simple low wooden fence but when the Kijin's stopped and stared at the many Oni statues that surrounded the memorial, all dressed in little kimonos.
"What? What are these?" Shuna asked as Shion picked one of them up, looking at it and then showing it to the others. "Their little Oni's! How cute is it!? And they all have different kimono's on too!" she gushed as Hakuro gasped at the familiar figure. "Master Hakuro? Is something wrong?" Kurobe asked, looking at a few other of the little statues, they all seemed to have smiling faces on them but some didn't have faces at all. "These statues... are of the lost villagers." The sword master informed the young kijin who froze in shock and surprise. "T-the lost villagers? Then... who?" Shuna asked as she looked at the base of the stone and pulled on her brother's arm, both siblings getting closer as they spotted a familiar oni statue in a white and red decorated kimino. "Is that... Mother?" Benimaru questioned as he and Shuna looked at the beautiful wooden statue, giving a soft smile at her.
"Kurobe, did you make these!?" Shion asked, turning to the black smith who was shocked, shaking his head. "It wasn't me; I was never good at carving with such detail. My hands would have been scared from all this carving. It almost looks like everyone from the village is here." he mentioned, trying to count the many oni statues, but it only made the reality of what had happened even more grave and tragic.
"The Chief." Souei piped up, having quickly scanned the aera and felt like one had been missing. Benimaru and Shuna's eyes widening at the realization, looking around for the familiar image of their father. "Can you see it? It has to be somewhere." Shuna asked, looking worried, Benimaru let her hold onto the statue of their mother, he looked through all the statues to try and find the one of their father's when he caught on to the scent of persimmons and spice.
"Oh! You guys are here already?" Kayo's voice came from the bamboo forest, the kitsune woman appearing with her hair pulled back into a loose braid, some bamboo leaves in her hair, wearing the black and red yukata properly with some baggy black pants and simple sandles wrapped securely around her feet, but her arms where hidden behind her back for some reason.
"Kayo!? Where you the one who?" Shuna asked as she showed the Kitsune her mother's statue, the kitsune hesitated for a bit before nodding. "Yes... I didn't know if you guys would be mad at me or not for doing this." She admitted, Kayo looking away from them and at the sprit that floated beside her. An oni with a familiar red mane of hair and thick black horns, wearing crimson armor stared at Benimaru and Shuna who didn't seem to realize it was there.
"Why would we be mad? This is so sweet of you but... did you carve all of these yourself Kayo?" Shuna asked amazed. "Oh! did you also make the little kimonos!?" Shion asked as she went over to the kitsune and pulled her over to the group, the oni sprit with her frowning as he watched carefully. "Statues yes, kimonos no. Estela and Carmen helped with those and... I was just about to add the last one." Kayo blushed, as she pulled the last statue from behind her, making them all gasp and stare at the statue of the late Oni chieftain. Shuna had tears in her eyes as she held onto the one of her mother's close to her chest. Benimaru came over to the kitsune who didn't look at him but at the sprit who watched the young red head approach her.
Benimaru grabbed Kayo's hands first and looked at them with a small frown, having seen blood and nicks on her fingers left behind by finishing up the last statue at the last minute. "You didn't have to hurt yourself for this." he told her, looking worried as Kayo's golden eyes locked with his concerned crimson eyes, Kayo blushed nervously before looking away.
"I... I wanted to... I know the pain of losing someone so close to you... so... I wanted to do something that would at least put your hearts at ease... even if just a little." She told them and then looked at the oni sprit. "And maybe it with sooth your sprit as well." she talked to him directly, startling him but confusing the kijin's who saw nothing but air. "Lady Kayo? Who are you talking to?" Shion asked, confused as Shuna's eyes widen and she fell to her knees as she felt a strange present all around them, the Kijins were mostly unaware that they were surrounded by many Oni sprits, most of them warriors who died regretting their death and loss of their village.
"Benimaru's and Shuna's father, the late Oni Cheaiftian." Kayo admitted to them as they all looked at her in shock before Hakuro started to chuckle and then laugh loudly. Much to Kayo's confusion sprinkled with hurt that her sword master didn't believe her. "You never stop surprising me, Lady Kayo. Forgive me for laughing, I do believe you. That, and there is something more to these statues that you want to show us." The old Kijin smirk knowingly as Kayo nodded, relived he believed her and looking at the others, as well as Benimaru and Shuna, they believed her too.
"There is, I've been practicing with this new ability that... will allow the living and the dead to see and speak with one another for a few moments." She told them, locking eyes with a shocked Benimaru, only she looked guilty. "I can only connect to one sprit at a time, and they have to have a name. The longest I can keep a sprit in contact is 30 minutes." she told him looking worried, before he smiled and just kissed her lips, shocking her and amusing the others.
"Thank you." Benimaru breath onto her lips as he pulled away sadly.
"So we can't see anyone? Why mention that when even the late Chief didn't have a-" Kurobe was asking before he looked at the statue carefully... seeing a name carved at the base... "Lord Kayo... did you, name the late Oni Chief's sprit?" Souei asked, curious and confused as the kitsune woman nodded.
"Asahi, is the name I gave him... and with this, I can let you talk with him again for a few more moments." Kayo explained as Benimaru and Shuna held back their tears but then hugged the kitsune woman tightly. She hugged the two siblings back before they slowly let her go, so she could summon their father's sprit. Shuna handing over their mothers and asking the kitsune a silent question, only getting the Kitsune woman giving the air behind her a quick look before petting her head. "Sorry Shuna, your mother is at peace, your father isn't, and he wants to speak with you both one last time." she told the young girl who looked sad but nodded and set her mother's statue at the base of the monument before Kayo set the chief's right beside it.
Taking a deep breath, she turned into her mid-sized kitsune form, showing off 5 of her tails as she clapped her paws together with her head bowed... the tips of her tails lit with blue fire before they lit the Asahi's statue aflame. The kijin watched in amazement as the blue flames quickly turned red, expanding into the size of a large oni before it took a more refined shape... and a familiar face appaired as Hakuro shed a tear of disbelief.
"Master... Asahi." he used the name as the Oni chief appaired before them, glaring down at the kitsune who was feeling light headed, leaning to one side before Souei came to hold her, her furry head resting under his chin.
"F-father?" Shuna questioned as she unleashed her tears... and the oni's attention softened and went to his youngest child. 'You've grown so much, my dear little peach. I am so proud of you.' he mussed as Shuna choaked back her sobs. Benimaru looked nervous as he glanced back at Kayo who seemed very exhausted from the ordeal, naming an strong oni like his father and summoning a sprit would have required a lot of magicules to pull off.
'My son.' Asahi snipped, getting the kijin's attention.
"Yes, father?" Benimaru addressed him, feeling a bit odd but familiar as father and son locked near identical crimson eyes. 'Do you have feelings for this young lady?' He asked, looking at Kayo disapprovingly, making something sink in the pit of his and Shuna's stomachs. "I do." Benimaru admitted blushing, waiting for what is father would say next, the necklace that the young kijin had around his neck showing a connection to the kitsune but Souei was also wearing his, only it was a bit hidden behind his high collar.
'Don't. This will only lead you and our clan to further ruin.' The oni warned sternly much to everyone shock. "W-what? But father, she's one of our leaders! An intelligent, beautiful woman that-" Benimaru was voicing before his father spoke over him. 'You should have left once your deal with that slime was over.' He sternly told the young kijin who was shocked that his father knew of Rimuru.
"Father! We owe so much to Lord Rimuru and Kayo! We couldn't leave after finding a new home that accepted us at our weakest and made us stronger than before!" Shuna spoke up as she stood against her father, much to his shock. 'My child, has that kitsune taught you? You never talked this way to me before.' he mentioned, frowning as he looked at his daughter who was standing up to him, nothing like the well behaved little oni princess she was raised to be. "If you mean that Kayo hasn't treated me like a paper doll, then yes! Lord Rimuru and Kayo have given me responsibilities I enjoy! The Goblins, Dwarves, Orcs, Kitsunes and even our leaders depend on me!" Shuna told her father sternly, the oni a bit taken back at his daughter's outburst. "I'm useful to them! I have someone who's like a big sister to me, and people who don't treat me like a fragile doll." Shuna told her father who looked a bit guilty before he looked at the kitsune in Souei's arms... Kayo was in her humanoid form again and Soeui snuck a kiss or tried to.
'Yet, the kitsune seems fine kissing another man in front of you.' He hissed before Kayo and Souei noticed he had seen them. "Father that-" Benimaru blushed unsure how to explain their odd... relationship. "Souei is my mate and so is your son, Benimaru. I trust and care about them both no matter what anyone says or thinks." Kayo voiced and slowly got back on her feet thanks to Souei transferring some of his magicules to her. "Now. I didn't bring you back to argue, so please enjoy your visit while you still can." She told them, not looking back as she changed into her kitsune form and ran to her siblings who had been waiting and watching just out of site.
"Wow~! Good impression on the in-law sis~." Bruno teased before he yelped as Kayo bit his leg for the comment, but only enough to hurt. They then took off to see Geld Jr. before they made their way to their old den to hopefully speak with their mother.
~Later That Night~
Everyone in the main village was laughing and celebrating without a care in the world as they raised their mugs in cheers, unaware of the many eyes watching them from the shadows. It's only the flickering of the lanterns that had been lit up around the celebration aera that seemed odd. "What was that? The wind?" Rimuru questioned as he looked at the unmoving, flickering lanterns in the still night air. "Kayo?" The slime called out as he looked for his kitsune sister only for the lights to go out for a moment and then slowly come back on... right in front of him where 7 large black kitsunes with golden eyes.
"Ah! K-kayo!?" The slime shouted in shock as he noticed them confused why there was 7 before in red and black flames, they took on their humanoid forms. This dramatic display catching everyone's attention, confusing most about the appearance of the kitsune siblings with Kayo farthest away from the slime, at the center of her siblings. "Lord Rimuru, forgive us for interrupting." Antony spoke from Kayo's right, looking serious as Kayo was trying not to fidget, but her twitching ear and tails gave her away. "There's a very important matter we wish to present to you." Bruno spoke up maturely form Kayo's left, confusing the slime as he had an odd feeling in his gut.
"Okay? What is it? Why all the seriousness?" Rimuru asked, trying to smile but he felt that this was something deadly serious.
"Please forgive us for spoiling the mood." Carmen spoke from Antony's right. "We know everyone has worked hard to make this a joyous celebration." Diego reasoned from Bruno's left. "This isn't a decision we came to lightly, and Kayo was the one who suggested it." Estela pleaded from Diego's left. "It would mean a lot if you accepted our offer, Lord Rimuru." Felipe wished, looking worried as all eyes landed on Kayo who stiffened and was clearly hesitating about this matter. 'What's got her so nervous?' The slime questioned before the two older kitsunes pushed Kayo forward. Kayo looked a bit panicked before taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly as she looked at the little humanoid slime carefully.
"Rimuru... I call you my brother, even if we are a slime and a kitsune. You were the first to accept me after I had lost my home and separated from my family." Kayo carefully worded but still looked hesitant as she tried to find the right words.
"We helped Rigur and Rigurd protect their village against the dire wolves, and you turned Ranga and his pack into our closest allies." Kayo was stalling a little, but the goblins grinned at their mention and Ranga appaired behind Rimuru, proud to be mentioned. "We brought back Kaijin and his bothers from Dwargon to help our village provide shelter and clothing for itself, bring even more goblins under our care." Kaijin and his brother's grinned but where also curious what the kitsune woman was getting at. "We took in the Oni, and evolved them into Kijin, making them our strongest allies. Then, although they committed grievous acts, we also showed mercy to the Orcs and excepted them. Even the Lizardmen and Dragonewts became part of our large family so..." Kayo added but hesitated again before there was some groans from her brothers.
"Just give it to him already, sis." Bruno prodded; a bit annoyed with the speech his sister was giving. Rimuru looked confused as he looked at a hesitating Kayo.
"Give me what?" he questioned, his golden eyes locking with hers before she pulled out a black box from her tails carefully and presented it to the Slime who opened it, several other's where curious and tried to look inside as their slime leader froze as he recognized what was laying inside the box, looking up at Kayo with wide questioning eyes. "Besides her pearl, this is all that is left of our mother, Ayumi. A once nameless fire kitsune that gave birth to me and my siblings. I would like for you to make use of it... and consume it, Lord Rimuru." Kayo told the slime seriously as his jaw dropped, and everyone who heard her gasped in shock at the rather morbid request.
Shuna paled, her hands covering her mouth as she saw the fox pelt inside, her legs shaking and giving out as she fell to her knees holding back tears. She was both sad and horrified at the reality that Kayo's mother had been killed and skinned after saving her kits from that same fate. Never mind how the pelt of their mother was place inside the box to look like she was just sleeping on a velvet white pillow in the familiar black box that she has seen on Kayo's desk.
"L-lord Kayo! You want Lord Rimuru to consume the pelt of your mother!?" Rigurd asked loudly, so that everyone knew what the kitsune was asking. Kayo gave a firm nod as Rimuru was listening to Great Sage, mentally panicking at the request.
'Notice: Consuming the Kitsune pelt alone will not provide enough material to obtain a kitsune from. Fresh blood from the pelt's former owner or blood of its kin will also be required.'
"Thanks Kayo but... it's not going to work... apparently, I need blood from a relative to- Agh!" The slime was saying, trying to reject the pelt offering, feeling awful for refusing the 'gift'. Despite him having eaten the body of Ranga's father, Shizu, Geld Sr. and several other monsters he used for their parts. He didn't think telling Kayo and her siblings that he needed blood would have them all cutting their palms open and presenting their bloody hands to him.
"At least hesitate a little!" Rimuru yelled, as everyone watched in shock, pressuring the slime to give in, as they were moved by the sibling's collective action and lack of hesitation to forfill their Lord's requirements. Rimuru sighed, handing Shion his drink, going into his slime form, he took a moment admire the beautiful orange and white fur before he gobbled it up, and then all 7 kitsune siblings' hands were taken inside his body. Absorbing their blood to analyze, before healing the self-inflicted wounds and then pullign away from them as Great sage took care of the rest.
'Kitsune from Achieved! Would you like to use it?'
'Yes. May as well try it out.' The slime thought as his body changed in a little swirl of light blue flames, instead of being a cute little slime, Rimuru became a cute little fox kit with light blue fur. White decorating his small paws and tips of his ears, his tail was just a small round poof with a bit of white on top. His golden eyes blinked, and little black nose twitched as he smelled so many new scents that it was nauseating before Kayo pulled the small blue kit into her arms suddenly. So he could only smell her scent and not the many scents around him... the smell of persimmons and chili peppers was oddly soothing to the new little fox, he inhaled it slowly, the soft warmth that came from the larger kitsune also felt very nice and comforting.
"You okay, Rimuru? There are a lot of scents here to take in." Kayo voiced worriedly as everyone watched and nearly cooed over the new form of their blue leader. "Back up and give him some room, to many new scents for a kit can greatly overwhelm them." Anthony advised as he and his brothers made a few back away, watching as the little ball of fluff looked up at Kayo curiously with wide golden eyes.
"Don't you look adorable~?" Kayo teased as Rimuru yiped and tried to look at himself...his golden eyes widening as he saw his little kit form. Excited and amazed at the transformation, everyone cheered at the successful transformation, having yet another thing to celebrate.
~Rimuru's Retreat~
"I wish you would have given me a heads up." The slime voiced as Kayo as carrying him to his little home after a few hours with everyone drinking and eating together in celebration of stronger bonds. "I wanted to but... I figured you would tell me not to do it in the first place." Kayo yawned as her shoes vanished into black mist at the front door, before walking onto the tatami mat that was all to the slime's little home. "Are you planning on sleeping over? There's... a futon isn't there?" Rimuru asked, having realized that could have been one of the secrets Kayo had mentioned.
The kitsune smirked and slid aside one of the panels, of course there was a small storage room with a light blue futon and a pillow neatly folded inside.
"Why? I don't need to sleep, unless you planed on sleeping over." he asked, a bit amused as Kayo laid out the futon. "Maybe just for tonight, I learned a new skill that you might want to see... but I will have to sleep here if I use it now." she vaguely explained, removing her top to expose the tank top under it, and then removed her pants, of course the slime looked away as she got undressed before tapping the slime on the head, having stripped to only just the tank top and some simple black panties.
"Do you want me to show you my new skill? It will only last for 30 minutes though." she told him with a soft smile. Rimuru was still confused, unaware of Shizu's sprit lingering near them, looking a bit nervous at the kitsune's plan.
"Sure, let's see what ya got fur ball." the slime chirped, still unsure what the skill was. It didn't help when Kayo pulled out a small statue of Shizu. Confused he looked at her but only saw the kitsune get cozy under the futon before she lit some blue flames carefully and lit the statue on fire. "Kayo!" He yelled in a panic but was confused when the blue flames swirled and turned orange, taking shape of a human woman... the slime held his breath as the flames took the form of a familiar woman who smiled at the slime and her dark eyes glittered with excitement.
'Hello Mikami-san.' the sprit called him. Making a chill run through the slime and glance at Kayo, who was now out cold, asleep in the futon. 'Kayo told me your old name, or would you prefer me to just call you Rimuru-san?' She asked innocently, amused at the slime glaring at his sleeping sister. "No... it's okay. Kayo just uses my old name when she's mad at me so... I feel like I'm in trouble when I hear it now." Rimuru admitted as he got close to the sprit, curious as he stuck out a little nub to touch her... only to have it go through her.
'Unfortunately, we can't touch each other. Kayo can only give me this form for so long, there is so much I want to tell you Mikami-san.' She gave the slime a sad smile as Rimuru nodded, the two talking threw out what little time they had, under the beautiful full moon light that lit up a peaceful sky.
~Benimaru, Souei, & Kurobe~
"Are you sure you want to give her only one ring?" The Kijin blacksmith asked, looking at the younger kijins in confusion, having been pulled away from the main festivities for a chat. "Kayo doesn't need two rings, one ring from Master Benimaru will be more than enough." Souei reasoned as the two young kijin's had pulled aside their comrade to talk about crafting something very special. "There's a law that decrees that a life partner must make or commission a ring for their intended. Both Kayo and Lord Rimuru approved said law." Benimaru mentioned, having seen that law as it ended up on his desk by some odd chance. Touching the necklace Kayo gave them, still holding the rings tightly inside their small confines until something happened to set them free. The inscriptions on the rings where in that strange language Kayo had been using, so no one could read it but Kayo and maybe Rimuru.
"Hmm, I think it will be a great honor to create our mistress's ring. I know a bit of what she likes and hates, only problem is keeping her out of the forge." Kurobe mussed with a sad smile. "Are you really okay with young master Benimaru being the only one to marry her, Souei?" the older kijin asked as he looked down at the blue kijin, Souei gently touched his choker as he closed his eyes to hide his emotions. "For now. Kayo still has many other duties; I will be content in serving her as the kijin's mistress." the ninja told him but felt his hand being grabbed where no one could see, the ninja squeezing the red Kijin's hand for support, Kayo wasn't their only mate.
"Alright, come to think of it, don't you have to get permission from her father or Lord Rimuru to marry her properly?" the blacksmith pointed out as both men froze at the realization. "I'm sure Lord Rimuru would approve of course, but Lady Kayo doesn't speak much about her kitsune father. She has slipped and called the Dwarf king father though, but I doubt you will need his permission to marry her." Kurobe pointed out in amusement, Benimaru was getting a bit nervous with the realization of how many powerful men where around Kayo.
"I... I needed more training. Ah! Master Hakuro!" Benimaru realized, as the old Kijin had grown fond of the kitsune as well, like she was his daughter.
"Do you need something, young Master?" Hakuro asked as he had heard his name, looking to Benimaru who look at him nervously. "I'm going to propose to Kayo." the red kijin bluntly told the sword master who looked a shocked before chuckling with a soft smile. "Young master, I believe you are about to lose this old man a lot of money, try asking in 2 more months." Hakuro mussed and walked away, leaving the red Kijin confused, Kurobe chuckled at the old man's words.
"I'm about to lose a lot too. I bet on this month." he muttered, shaking his head, Kurobe had put money down on a much later date. "I'm sure Kayo will be happy to take your money regardless." Souei mussed, as Benimaru was confused. "Why? Did she make a bet too?" he lightly joked but Soeui nodded. "One year." he told his 'friend', amused so see his face turn pale as he tried to figure out when Kayo had made the bet and how long he had to meet her exaptation.