I Got Reincarnated! - Kitsune Chronicles
~Extra Chapter~ Planning and Dreams
'Well... this is not how imagined being surrounded by sleeping beauties to be like.' Rimuru thought with a bit of disappointment between his old fantasy and new reality.
In his slime form, he did not need to sleep but somehow, he did manage to sneak in a few restful moments that felt like it. Right now, he felt oddly warm being cuddled between Kayo and Shuna as the two slept peacefully on either side of him, Shuna holding him in her arms close to her small chest, her head resting on Kayo's arm, the other was draped over the pink kijin's body. Shion resting on top of the two, softly snoring with her head in Kayo's lap and her legs draped over Shuna's. Milim sleeping on top of the kijin woman, with her pink hair loose with her head happily resting on the kijin's soft chest. He could even see Carmen and Estella were cuddled up to Kayo and Shuna, covering them all up with some warm light blue blankets, the 3 kitsunes tails curled around their cozy little pile for more warmth.
'What time is it? Maybe I can go have a look around the castle.' the slime though, carefully making a body double to let the girl's sleep, he slipped away quietly out of the spare room they're where using. He hopped his way over to where the guys where still up and talking, well Benimaru was stuttering as he was teased by Kayo's brothers.
"Are you sure this is what she would want?" Benimaru asked as he looked at the drawing of a ring that Felip had provided him, along with some notes on what material, stones, engravement and the size of the ring he should give the kitsune leader. "Of course, we know our sister well enough. Even if you give her something completely ugly, she would still cherish it. Maybe not wear it but cherish it." Bruno mussed, being the only one taking his kitsune from to lay about, while his brothers and Kijin brothers sat properly on top of plush black cushions.
"What's going on here?" Rimuru asked as he slipped into the room, looking at all the drawings of beautiful rings and other Jewlery on the tatami floor. "We're helping the Kijin pick a design for sis's rings." Bruno supplied, yawning as he was tired. Hakuro and Kurobe having asked for privet rooms before retiring for the night.
"Rings? Are you both going to propose to her?" Rimuru asked, feeling a little jealous of his sister but also a little happy. The slime was also amused as the two Kijin's seemed to blush nervously. "If Kayo agrees to it, yes." Benimaru spoke up and picked up a ring design that the kitsune leader would like, it was simple and hand several stones flaking a slightly larger one. It wouldn't get too much in her way in battle and it looked a little like the rings she had given him and Souei.
"One-woman marrying two guys? Is that really going to be, okay?" Rimuru asked, even if in his past life he idolized MC's who would get a harem of pretty girls to marry them. However, with the roles reversed... it seemed more complicated and troublesome.
"Of course. Kayo has already sorted that issue out and... I would officially be her main husband given my rank and the status of my clan. Souei has no issues with being her second husband and given her rank and status... she would be allowed more than two mates." Benimaru explained, blushing as he explained it, the Kitsune's amused snickering didn't help.
"Officially? How? Wait! Do you mean... Kayo could even marry a 3rd guy?" Rimuru asked, a part of him getting very jealous as he saw the two kijin's nod in agreement at his question. "Of course. Kayo is a very desirable mate, and it is not something she would take lightly either. Only, I suspect it will be for political reasons rather than love when she takes on a 3rd husband." Souei explained but Rimuru was still confused.
"Political reasons?" the slime questioned, something about it gave him a bad feeling.
"Yes. Sis has gotten a lot of engagement requests as Inari Dwargo too. It wouldn't be a surprise when the numbers increase once other nations start trading with Tempest. Demon Lord Carrionand father are already trying to narrow down possible mate Canidates in Eurazania." Felipe explained but yelped as both Benimaru and Souei learned of this, giving off dangerous auras as they hadn't known Kayo's father was picking her mate in the beast kingdom.
"W-what!? W-we haven't even started trade negotiations with them yet! Why is Demon Lord Carrion trying to find her a mate for her with your father?" Rimuru questioned as the kitsune realized something. "Lord Rimuru, Demon Lord Carrion is the sworn brother of our father, Kitsune Lord Zorro. Originally, father was going to take her to The Beast kingdom, to train her as the only other Void kitsune in existence and... eventually, make her the demon lord's heir. Father is still going to train her, but only if she goes to Eurazania since he is unable to travel." Antony explained with a small frown, trying not to let his hurt show at how little their father cared for the rest of his kits.
"WHAT!?" Rimuru questioned in shock, his brain trying to process how close Kayo became to being an Heir of a demon lord. A shiver ran threw his slime body as he imaged Kayo acting more like Milim if she had been raised in the beast kingdom by their father... it made him scared and a little sad thinking about the life the kitsune woman could have had.
"Does... the demon lord, still have plans on making her his heir?" Benimaru asked, clutching his fists and grinding his teeth, containing his raging emotions. Souei was a bit better with controlling his anger and placed a hand on Benimaru's shoulder, giving it a tight squeeze to try and clam him down.
"I don't think so. She's already the leader of Tempest and the Kitsune Lord of the Jura Forest. She only took on being Dwargon's Heir for Tempest and under a fake name. It all depends on if she wants to, because I'm sure we all know she how strong she really is." Antony explained and looked at his brothers who gave serious looks. Confusing the kijin and slime for a moment, wondering if Kayo had been holding back.
"I'm not going to be a Demon Lord's Heir." Kayo grumbled as she suddenly appeared behind Rimuru, picking the slime up to cuddle him sleepily. Thankfully her eyes where closed so her brother's had time to slip away all the papers before she could see them, giving a tired yawn. "S-sis? What are you doing up?" Felip asked, the kitsune brother's glancing at Bruno who was now asleep, having been the one who was supposed to keep tabs on their sister.
"I got up for a little snack when I heard a bit of what you were talking about." Kayo sleepily explained, yawning as she nuzzled the slime who felt oddly clam in her arms. The kitsunes and Kijins gave each other glances. "I'm not going to meet with our sire." Kayo told her brothers who looked at her in shock.
"What? B-but sis he's going to train you to-" Antony started to speak up before she interrupted him.
"I don't care. I've done fine without him and his training." Kayo slowly opened her eyes halfway and looked at her brother's will dull yellow eyes. "Also, you can tell him to stop trying to find me a mate. I won't accept anyone he picks for me." Kayo said coldly, making her brother's shiver at her cold tone. Benimaru and Souei feeling a little relived that it seemed her father's approval wasn't going to be necessary.
"Sis... I can understand the mate thing but... at least talk to him. He's the sworn bother to a demon lord, it could be a way to improve relations between Tempest and the beast kingdom quickly and easily." Antony suggested as he watched as Kayo toyed with Rimuru's body, and the slime let her as he consumed the wave of magicuales he was feeding him... she wasn't very happy.
"There are other ways of improving relations between countries. Just because it would be quick and easy doesn't mean I will play the part of being his little girl. All because I'm a Void kitsune~?" Kayo asked as she kept squishing Rimuru in her hands. "That is a role I refuse to take. He only cares about his legacy any way, he can always just make another void kit. I'm sure he's trying really hardwith the 4 young fox females he's sharing his bed with. Right. Now." she hissed out coldly, looking at her brothers with disappointment as they lowered their ears and heads before their sister. The non-kitsunes started to get a little concerned, Rimuru knew by now that when beasts lower their head below someone... it was a sign of submission.
"H-how do you-" Deigo tried to ask before Kayo started to smile, showing off her sharp fangs in a manic smile, it made her kitsune brothers whine in fear. "Kayo?" Benimaru called to her worriedly, shocked to hear that her father had taken more mates after their mother's death. Souei gritted his teeth, understanding his kitsune mate's fear about being used and then thrown away by those she loved.
"Tio Carrion has kept in touch~. He plans to send an envoy this spring, along with a very nice apology gift for the stupid cub's actions." Kayo told Rimuru, giving off a calming sigh as she cuddled him more. "Now if you will excuse me. I'm going to enjoy a little snack." Kayo yawned sleepily and walked away with Rimuru who got a little fearful at her words.
"Please tell me I'm not the snack." the slime asked only for Kayo to stop and think for a moment. Not having thought of teasing the Slime with that.
"Don't... No..." Rimuru said sternly as the kitsune grinned at the playful idea. "I'll make you something sweet. Something with strawberries." Rimuru bribed quickly, grateful that Shuna had shared some of Kayo's favorite recipes with him. "Hmm~, fine." Kayo shrugged it off after a while and made their way to the private kitchen where Rimuru made her a snack the kitsune happily ate up instead of him.
~Next Day, Afternoon, Outside Rimuru's Office~
Rommel gulped nervously standing before the sliding doors of the Slime Leader's office, clutching a notebook he had been gifted with at the Tempest Christmas celebration. The two powerful leaders wanting to speak with him about his stories... as the kitsune wanted to publish some of them but it seemed the slime was not as egger to give his permission.
Having a few issues with how he was being portrayed.
He took a deep breath and knocked on the sturdy wooden doors... and waited for a reply.
"Come in Rommel." Came Kayo's voice, it assured the young mage a little before he opened the door carefully. Blinded by the light that shined from the room, the feeling of power and the smell of fresh muffins greeted his nose.
Kayo smiled as she saw him, sitting on one of the couches with both of her legs up on the cushions with bear feet, wearing a red shirt and some black slacks, her hair down and loose for once. Rimuru was in his human form sitting next to her and drinking some tea as he pouted. On the table Infront of the two leaders were an array of small snacks and sandwiches that enticed the human into joining them.
"I'm sure your tired from standing outside the door for so long, so why not come sit down already?" Rimuru asked the mage who was startled.
"AH! Y-yes, Lord Rimuru. S-sorry, for making you wait." he apologized and took a seat across from them, looking nervous before a cup of warm tea was offered to him by a familiar black, white tipped fluffy tail. "Have some tea darlin~. You're shaking more than a babies' rattle." Kayo mussed, letting out her accent a little as the young mage carefully took the beautiful cup and saucer form her tail.
"Thank you, Lord Kayo." he politely thanked her, taking a sip of the warm, soothing liquid that melted his worries away.
"Can we get down to business? I really got to know. What made think to make me a princess!" Rimuru asked, yelling as he couldn't contain himself and showed Rommel the illustration of himself Saitama had made for the book. "Oh! Well Lord Kayo didn't want people to think Youm was one of her bed slaves, so we shifted the story to you... but it did have some romantic elements still so it would be more appealing to people." Rommel happily answered, and Kayo had to muffle her laughter as Rimuru stared at him in disbelief.
"That doesn't answer my question on why I'm a princess!" Rimuru asked again as Rommel looked a little nervous, glancing at Kayo who was trying to calm down. "Lord Kayo said that a princess would be more appealing and friendly then a king or a queen. That's why she's the Kitsune Queen who rules the great Jura Forest." Rommel explained and Rimuru looked at, Kayo as she was eating a cookie.
"Really? You made yourself the Queen?" He asked as Kayo chewed on her treat. "Yup~. Got to have a looming threat. There's a fine line between friendly and a door mat slime ball. At least this way you can be as friendly as you want, while the Queen gets to be as bad as she wants~." the kitsune purred with a mischievous grin, her 3 tails wagging happily.
"That... makes sense..." Rimuru groaned as he consulted Great Sage, but it agreed with Kayo's course of action. "Why couldn't I be a prince then?" he asked, pouting even as Kayo poked him with one of the cookies. "Youm's the Champion who defeated the Orc Lord. We can't have a gallant, noble prince of monsters upstaging the rough around the edges, underdog common man. That would just make you look weak rather than friendly." she reasoned, and the slime pouted more, only to bite into the cookie she was offering him.
"Um. If you don't mind, could you two tell me... how you met? How did this village get started?" Rommel asked as two pairs of Golden eyes looked at him and then looked at each other. To the human, it seemed like they were thinking about if they should tell their story. When really the two debated on how much they should tell the young mage before Kayo spoke.
"Hmm well I guess it was when I was out hunting for food. I had lost my kitsune family while escaping some hunters and was left all alone. A weak little runt just trying to survive." Kayo started and Rommel took a few notes, excited to learn about the kitsune woman. "I managed to find some food before I spotted a lone slime. It was odd and being a curious little kit I was, I stalked it. Questioning if it would have been a nice drink or a snack back then." Kayo mussed and looked at Rimuru who chimed in.
"I was just a lost little slime; I didn't know I was supposed to be in a colony. I was alone when I became aware of things. I just ate stuff because I was board and didn't know what else to do." Rimuru shrugged, grateful for Kayo and Great Sage coaching him on what to say.
"It was probably around that time I decided to hunt a slime for myself... but... I miscalculated." Kayo admitted with a small laugh. "Yeah, I could have just eaten you when you pounced on me. I remember your tiny little paws trying to stand on top of be and just flopping onto your face. I was bigger than you and yet you still tried to hunt me." Rimuru mussed, chucking at the cute memory.
"Yeah, thanks for not eating me, Slime ball." Kayo mussed and pat Rimuru on the head, making him blush a little. "You're welcome, fur ball." he told her softly. Rommel smiled at the warm bond the two shared.
"After that we talked a little, we made a pact to team up. I was alone and he was board, so it was kinda a win-win for both of us. Then the goblins came." Kayo started and Rimuru picked it up. "Rigur, at the time was a nameless goblin, he came up and asked for our help. He and the others where trembling before us like leaves in the breeze. We were so confused when he addressed us as strong one." Rimuru admitted fondly. "At first, I thought he was talking to me, you know, even if I was a runt and young. I was still a kitsune." Kayo explained and pouted, Rimuru chuckled. "Turns out he ment me. We had a little laugh over it but decided to help them out." the slime shrugged, a little embarrassed about how his aura had been leaking out.
"H-helped them out? What did the goblins need help with?" Rommel asked, curious and intrigued by the two leaders before something came up out of the kitsune's shadow. A massive blue and white dog with a horn coming out of its head, panting a looking excited as he rested its massive head and a paw on Kayo's lap.
"Masters! May I please share my story too!?" Ranga asked, giving the adorable puppy dog eyes that had Kayo cooing and petting him while Rimuru looked on in amusement. "Sure, go-ahead Ranga." the slime allowed it, and Rommel was a little scared and excited as he looked at the massive wolf.
"Who are you? What are you?" Rommel asked as the wolf stood proudly by Kayo's side.
"I am Ranga, Leader of the Tempest wolves. Loyal vasal to Master Rimuru and Master Kayo. It was myself and my pack that were going to attack the weak little goblins, expand our territory while the storm dragon had disappeared, and there was no more guardian." the wolf explained and whined sadly. "My father wanted to kill the weak, even my own brothers and sisters were killed if they were deemed weak." the tempest wolf explained. "I had seen these strange structures the goblins had built; I was cautious of it and rightly so." Ranga nodded and nuzzled into Kayo's hand as she started to pet him behind his ears. "Only my father didn't listen to me and ordered us to attack. Many of my kin were killed by invisible stings and arrows before we even got close to the goblins." the wolf whined but relaxed on Kayo's lap.
"Master Rimuru killed my father who was making a frenzied charge, killing him swiftly. It was after he absorbed my father's body did, he command us to choose. Continue and die or submit. The choice was obvious." the wolf panted as he was given a nice treat by the kitsune, and he happily munched on it in her lap.
"Wow." Rommel was in aww, taking more notes as Rimuru looked at the two canines.
"Yeah, the wolves chose to summit so they kinda became part of the goblin village. In the morning I gave the goblins and Ranga their names." Rimuru added simply before he looked at Kayo. "Come to think of it, you and Ranga got pretty close around then. What happened when I was out?" the slime questioned at the two looked at him and then each other.
"Out? What do you mean? H-how many monsters did you name?" the mage asked, amazed that the slime had named even one goblin. "He named a little under 100 goblins at the time. He had to sleep for a few days to regain his strength, internally we call it a BLUE OUT but for security reasons, its best if you don't even have it in your notes Rommel." Kayo advised and the young mange nodded, understanding why that should be kept a secret.
"What happened while Lord Rimuru was sleeping? Surely you didn't do nothing Lord Kayo." Rommel asked as Kayo tried to figure out how to describe it. "Of course not. I was the first to be given a name, after I had done what little I could do to help the goblins but before the attack by the wolves." the kitsune explained.
"Ah! Yes! I remembered you being a fateful guardian, Master Kayo! You stood guard over Master Rimuru. Not eating, sleeping or even leaving his side for very long, even when the goblins brought you food." Ranga mentioned but both leaders stiffened, Rimuru looking at Kayo in shock of this information. "Kayo... did you starve while looking after me?" he asked her seriously, wondering if that trigged her bad eating habits.
"N-no. I just didn't have much of an appetite. I was worried about you and the goblins, and the wolves!" Kayo reasoned quickly. "Not to worry Master! I brought Master Kayo food as well! She had a healthy appetite and ate three times her size! So of course, I had to hunt some really big prey! What kind of vasal would I be if I let one of my master's starve?" Ranga stated proudly, not knowing that it was bad that Kayo had eaten that much.
"Even then you didn't eat properly?" Rimuru asked frowning worriedly. "It's normal. I was used to hunting for my food before I get hungry or just go without since kitsunes don't hunt in packs. You understand that right Ranga?" Kayo asked the wolf, looking for a bit of back up. "Of course! A little kit like you hunting all alone in the Jura Forest would have been very dangerous. I could have eaten you in one bite myself back then." The wolf supplied and carefully nuzzled Kayo, and she gave him wonderful pets.
"That sounds very dangerous, I guess it must be tough to be a kitsune, huh?" Rommel asked as Kayo nodded. "Back then, yes. Foxes are between being both predator and prey. We would hunt small animals but at the same time we had to avoid large animals, Monsters, and Humans if we wanted to survive." Kayo hissed, taking a sip from her cup.
"If you don't mind Lord Kayo... what is the difference between a Kitsune and say... a fox beastmen?" Rommel asked, curious about the differences. He knew the kitsune leader was young despite her 7 tails that would have meant she was at least 700 years old.
"Magic and skill mostly. Kitsune are born as normal foxes, some with more vibrate fur colors then others, something happens like being named by an especially powerful creature, becoming a familiar, or living over 100 years being the usual ways for a normal fox to become a kitsune. A beastmen is born with their fox and humanoid traits, they do have some magic but would have to train much harder than a Kitsune to use it like we do. I've... met, a few beastkin from Eurazania. Physically they are a bit stronger, but my kitsune do not rely on strength alone. It also seems the beastkin can't transform between beast and humanoid forms as easily nor can they grow more tails." Kayo told him, frowning. "Then again, none of them live past the age of 30. Another advantage kitsune's have over fox beastmen I guess." Kayo shrugged seeming unfazed, but really, she was trying to find out WHY the fox beastkin lived such short lives or if it had something to do with the beast kingdom.
The room was quiet as the information sunk in before Kayo waved it off. "Enough about that. It's not important, do you need any more notes for more chapters?" Kayo asked the young mage who blushed as he had not been taking notes with the kitsune's story.
"Oh! Um... yes ma'am. H-how did you meet the dwarves and King Dwargo? How did you become his heir?" Rommel asked, excited to learn about that but Kayo just gave him a clam smile. "I can't tell you about how I became his heir, but we can tell you how we met the dwarves. I think... it does have to do with Nii-san's healing potions." Kayo mentioned and looked at Rimuru who was also trying to think.
"Well... we needed people who knew construction, and how to make clothes... so we headed out to Dwargon to find some guys to help with that. Ranga and the other's got us there pretty fast, it would have taken us a month just to get there otherwise instead of a week. Agh! but Ranga wouldn't slow down at all." Rimuru recalled and Kayo giggled at the fun memory. "That was fun~. I'm kinda sad I can't ride Ranga anymore." Kayo mussed and the wolf in her lap looked confused as did Rimuru. "Master Kayo? Why can't you ride me anymore? I can get bigger!" he asked, giving a pledging whine as Kayo had to look away with a darkening blush and Rimuru had an idea why, having come across... THAT story, giving his sister an unsure look.
"Um... well, I'm an adult Kitsune now and...um?" Kayo tried to figure out a way to word it, glancing down at her shadow, having felt Souei enter her shadow to check on them.
"Anyway~! We got into some trouble, but it was quickly cleared up. Some humans picked a fight with us, Kayo handled them at first because one tried to grab her... intending on selling her and me for money." Rimuru changed the subject as Kayo huffed. "Those nats are only causing trouble, but not enough to warrant a bounty." The kitsune grumbled as Rimuru gave her a flat look but said nothing.
"Anyway, the captain owed us a favor for helping out his brothers. Who so happened to be Kaijin and the rest of the dwarven craftsmen we have here in Tempest." Rimuru went on, Kayo chiming in on their story before they had to make a proper draft of their first book.
~A Week Later, Rimuru's Office~
"This is bad." The slime voiced, feeling uneasy for some reason as the day had been quiet... to quiet. Hopping off his desk, ignoring the mounds of work he still had to do, Rimuru slipped through the little flap that connected his office with Kayo's empty office. "Hmm? She's not here?" Rimuru questioned, confused as he hopped onto her desk, only to find her journal, innocently sitting out in the open. Rimuru hadn't ever touched the thing himself, but it felt like a cursed object just waiting for an unfortunate victim to give into temptation.
The slime was going to take a chance as he carefully opened its leather cover to a random page. Curious, he read the first few words and was confused by the odd message.
You forgot about Lover's Day, Slime ball.
"Wait... what!?" Rimuru questioned, confused and shocked by the message that had been left on a random page. 'Did she know I was going to come in here?' Rimuru questioned worriedly before there was a booming explosion from somewhere in the assembly building as the whole building had shaken.
"What was that!? Are we under attack?" He asked startled before taking on his humanoid from and rushing out of the kitsune's office to find out where it had come from.
Analisis: The source of the explosion seems to have come from inside the kitchens where several people have already been evacuated.
'That's not good.' Rimuru dreaded the thought of what could have caused it, or who, he made it to the hallway that led to the buildings massive kitchen where he saw Shuna with Milim, Eren, some goblins, Kitsune, Orcs, and elves. All of them wearing aprons covered in some black soot, coughing as black smoke that came out of the kitchen. "Shuna!? Is everyone okay? What happened?" Rimuru asked the kijin princess opened the windows to let out the smoke, Carmen and Eren helping her try to get in some fresh air.
"One horn made the kitchen explode! Sissy is putting out the fire but all the treats we made got destroyed!" Milim reported, growling in frustration as she glared back into the smoke-filled kitchen where Shion was coming out coughing and covered in a lot more soot than the others.
"Shion are you okay?" Rimuru asked as the kijin woman felt to her knees, looking defeated and ready to cry. "L-lord Rimuru... I... I tried to make you some Lover's Day chocolates but... they all exploded!" Shion sniffled and started to cry, her emotions causing a mini storm in the hallway.
"Agh! Shion, it's okay! I-I don't need any chocolates!" Rimuru told her before suddenly the storm stopped and Shion was whimpering, holding her Horn as Kayo stood over her, the kitsune's crimson kimono top and black apron covered in soot, flanked by a goblin and kitsune in uniforms that were ripped right out of a manga they shared their name with, En'en no Shōbōtai(Fire Force). The glowing light blue magical rings on their specially padded dark gray uniforms protecting them from the heat, flames, and smoke.
"Lord Rimuru, the explosion and the fire have all been taken care of. Lord Kayo acted quickly so there were no injuries. The damage was limited to the oven and a contained radius." The goblin reported to Rimuru with a swift salute, the slime nodded and smiled at the goblin, impressed by their quick work.
"Thanks. Great work you guys. You got here even before I did." he praised as the two fire force members looked to Kayo who was helping Shion up, the kijin woman hugging her and sobbing apologies. Unsure if they should say that Kayo had them on standby, because of Shion's history.
"There, there. It was a good effort, Shion. We can try again another time, but I'm sure you learned that you can't rush threw things so carelessly. Cooking with love also takes great care, time and patients." Kayo sagely advised as Shion cried into her chest, the kitsune trying to avoid being cut by her horn which was oddly sharp. "I'm so sorry Lord Kayo! I promise I will do better as your student! Please let me pay for the repairs this time!" Shion suggested as she pulled away from the comforting hug, nearly cutting the woman's face with her horn.
"Okay, but please be more careful Shion. You also ruined everyone else's treats with your recklessness." Kayo pointed out as the other's gave Shion a frustrated glare...
"Eh? I... I'm so sorry everyone." Shion apologized and bowed to everyone, but Milim and Shuna looked the most pissed. "It's all your fault One horn, you ruined mine and sissy's snacks. You think an apology is going to be enough?" Milim asked as her blue eyes glowed and turned into slits. "Kayo... I think it would be best for everyone if you stopped trying to teach Shion how to cook." Shuna suggested, looking as graceful as ever but her words where sharp.
"M-miss Shuna!?" Shion looked at the princess in shock and a bit of hurt.
"Maybe, but teaching Shion how to cook is important too, Shuna. Learning to make edible and nutritious food is an important life skill everyone should know." Kayo reasoned as she crossed her arms under her chest, giving the pink kijin a stern look. There was a sort of spark between the two females that felt... unnatural since the two had always gotten alone before.
Rimuru felt a strange chill run threw his body, as if danger was nearby. 'Why... do I have a bad feeling?' He questioned before Kayo turned to him. "And you, Slime ball. You forgot to take care of Lover's Day. So, I had to pick up your slack. I was teaching the girls how to make sweets to give to the ones they like." Kayo scolded and pinched Rimuru's cheek. "Agh! Sorry! I forgot; I've been kind of busy with all my paperwork." Rimuru reasoned and felt bad when Kayo sighed, brushing off her disappointment quickly. It hurt the slime more than her being mad at him.
"It's fine. Though... all the treats got ruined in the explosion anyway." the kitsune reasoned as the others looked just as disappointed. "All our hard work." Carmen softly whines before Kayo pulled out some small little bags from her tails. "Here. You can give these. They're not much but they are sweets." Kayo reasoned as Rimuru stared at the little packets with colorful little stars on them.
"What are these?" Milim asked confused as Kayo handed her a little packet and she gave one to Rimuru who quickly opened the familiar packet and pulled out one of the strange colorful little treats. "No way... this can't be? Where... where did you find the sugar for this Kayo?" Rimuru asked, shocked as he popped one into his mouth as the sweetness of the little candy hit him, along with the nostalgia of the small treats that had tears welling up in his eyes. 'The last time I had these... an old lady gave them to me for helping her.' he thought back sadly, as at the time he was considering just throwing the little treats away, but he did end up eating them when he had to do some over time later that same day.
"Sugar!?" Milim asked and looked at one of the little treats and popped it into her mouth, her eyes lighting up in excitement. "It's sweet!" she gushed, and the others opened their little packs and tired the colorful candies, even Shuna who smiled softly with a knowing smile. "These are great, Lord Kayo. They even look like little stars~." Eren gushed as she tired one of the little treats. "They're like little blessings~ Oh! Are you going to give these to Lord Benimaru~!? Souei doesn't like sweets after all. I guess he's going to get nothing for Lover's Day from you." Shion teased before the girls realized something, Kayo pouted and looked away with a depressed frown.
"Benimaru's not getting any sweets from me." she muttered quietly but everyone heard her response, going wide eyed in shock that she wouldn't give the sweet tooth kijin anything!
~Later, Training Grounds~
"Agh! He's like this day after day... I'm gonna end up dead before I become a champion." Youm complained as he was being healed by one of his group's mages, who had been taught first aid and some basic healing magic by Kayo. They were still far from being able to heal all the injuries, but they could still treat and bandage the cuts and bruises without magic at least.
"You're complaining but I see your keeping up with him." Benimaru spoke up as he approached the human his Lord wanted to be made into a champion that defeated the Orc Lord. While he didn't have much of an opinion on the human at first, he respected him for not giving up and running away from all the tough training he and his men were going through. Even the mages where being trained to the bone by the Kitsune leader, despite being more for support than combat, they were learning self-defense from the best hand to hand combat fighter in Tempest.
"He sees your potential and that's why he's so strict with you. You've won Hakuro's approval." The Kijin leader assured the human who looked at him in disbelief. "You're kidding, right? That's clearly the face of someone who enjoys pissing off others." Youm accused as he saw that Hakuro was not fooled by Gobtia's disturbingly good dead goblin act. Then again it wasn't hard with how hard the kijin was 'training' the little goblin.
"I just don't get it." Youm voiced, giving a tired sigh as the mage finished with him, there was a soft chime of a bell in the air.
"It's because he wants everyone to be able to stand up to anything that comes their way. It's understandable given only he and a few others survived an attack from the Orc Lord and his army." Came Kayo's voice as she appeared with a small box filled with little treats, a sad smile on her face as Youm and Benimaru turned to look at her, the red Kijin giving a fond smile at her words.
"Kayo! It's been a while since you came to the training grounds. Did you come to help train the humans too?" The kijin asked and curiously looked into the box his mate had with her before she turned her back to him, seeing his hand reaching for one of the little treat bags. "Maybe. I have sweets to give out since Nii-san forgot about Lover's Day." Kayo told him and the Kijin perked up in confusion, and Youm was confused when the kitsune handed him one of the cute little packets without a word and to the kijin, who he knew was one other lovers.
"Thanks?" The human looked at the packet in confusion, feeing something small inside of it.
"Master Hakuro, can you hold off on the training for a bit? I brought some gifts." Kayo called out and the White Kijin paused and gave the young woman a soft smile. "Of course, Lord Kayo. It's sweet of you to think of us." the old swordmen mussed as the kitsune handed him one of the pouches, his having a single maple leaf on it, that small detail really struck the kijin deeper than any sword strike, but he tried not to show it. Then Gobtia was given one and the goblin eagerly opened the little pouch, popped one of the little sugar stars into his mouth.
"Thanks Kayo! Your sweets always taste best after some brutal training!" The goblin praised, enjoying the simple treat with joyful tears. The humans got curious and confused when they were also given the little packs and found the small sugary treats. Youm looked at his packet with some confusion but next to him he could feel the red kijin's irritation. "Eh? What are you so upset about? I'm sure she's got something special for you. Lucky basturd." he grumbled the last part as the Tempest General crossed his arms with a small blush. "Of course, she does. I've put off sweets for the last few days so I can freely accept it without guilt." he explained, pouting a little as he watched his mate give others the small little treats with a dazzling smile.
Youm could feel the kijin's annoyance growing before he opened his own little packet to see the little sugar stars. Curious, he pulled out one of them to look at for a bit... they were just colorful little lumps with a pink tint to it. Popping it into his mouth the human couldn't help but be shocked at the unfamiliar sweetness, with a hint of fruit? Suddenly his body felt energized, and he didn't feel as beat up as before.
"What the hell are these? A new kind of healing item?" Youm questioned in shock as he ate another little sugar star, despite the kijin glaring at him with jealously. "Their called, Konpeito, or Sugar Stars. Kayo made a big batch to give to everyone for Lover's Day but... I kind of dropped the ball and forgot about making that a thing here." Rimuru appeared, smiling nervously as he saw how well received the little gifts whereby everyone. Having followed his sister to see where she was taking the box of carefully packaged treats.
"Huh? Lover's day? Why did she give us these then? I thought she hated humans?" Youm asked, as he pulled out another little treat to eat, earning a glare from the red kijin. Rimuru gave a nervous chuckle as he looked at the annoyed kijin and questioned where Souei was and if he was feeling the same about Kayo giving sweets to everyone else.
"Of course, I hate humans, but your group has shown me that not all of you are filthy mongrels. Some of you can be good boys~." Kayo mussed and patted the young man on the head. Youm was a little annoyed by the treatment but... the head pat felt nice, he tried not to blush at the small bit of affection.
"Benimaru? Are you okay?" Rimuru asked as he could feel that the kijin didn't seem so happy with the kitsune ignoring him and petting Youm. "Kayo..." Rimuru turned to his sister who was quiet, pulling her hand away from Youm who felt crimson eyes glaring at him.
"Hmm, that's strange. Lord Kayo didn't you prepare something special for the young master?" Hakuro asked, approaching the small group, a soft smile on his face as he called the kitsune out and she looked very nervous about something, her tails twitching behind her. "Kayo? Did something happen?" Benimaru asked, unsure of why the kitsune seemed so nervous, the thought of her forgetting crossed his mind, but he couldn't imagen her ever forgetting him or Souei.
"W-well... your supposed to give out chocolates to the ones you like and... I would never want to give anyone that horrible imitation stuff. So... I was teaching some of the other girls how to make them in the Assembly building kitchen..." Kayo started nervously, still looking away from Benimaru, her ears pressed to her skull, arms wrapped under her chest, the apron still having some soot on it, and her tails wrapped around her legs. "I used all of my cocao beans while teaching them. We... were making all kinds of chocolate treats. Of course, Shuna, Milim, Eren, and of course Shion wanted to learn since I wouldn't let Milim eat any of them." at the mention of the purple kijin's name Benimaru gave an understanding nod.
"Ah~. Say no more. I'm sure you did your best to make me something special." The kijin gave her a soft smile, feeling a little bad for the ninja who let her know he didn't like sweets very much, but Benimaru was eger to try those cute little sugar stars she had given to everyone else. "T-that's not all... I was making something for Souei too. A coffee cake that wouldn't be too sweet that took the rest of my coffee supply~. I-i can't get more of either bean for at least another month." Kayo softly whined, trying not to cry but a few tears did build up in her eyes.
"Shuna was making something for Rimuru-nii-san and trying to concentrate so I had to keep Milim and Shion in line all by myself. I failed, and Milim ate the rest of Apito's honey and Shion well... she exploded the oven that had yours and Souei's treats baking inside." The kitsune whined as she finally looked at Benimaru with a few tears escaping her eyes.
The crimson kijin gulped nervously, finding her extra cute like this but at the same time he didn't want her to be upset over this little thing. Only to become confused when she pulled out a dark red wooden box from her tails, a pair of chopsticks kept together with a little red paper heart. "They were supposed to go with these bentos I made. T-they're not the best looking, but I was worried I would mess up how they taste. Sorry, but I don't want to give you any sweets if I can't give Souei something too." Kayo admitted, handing over the lovingly made boxed lunch to an amused Benimaru.
Rimuru couldn't help but join Youm in his jealousy of the pair.
'Lucky Bastuds.'
"Our young master and Souei are truly blessed to have Lord Kayo's affections." Hakuro mussed softly, looking down at the maple leaf on his little treats. Softly mussing if he should tell the kitsune why he liked maple leaves, as the young woman seemed to have noticed his fixation. Souei appeared out of the shadows, holding a familiar small brown bag and giving it to the kitsune. "Souei!" Kayo yelled at him, giving him a pouty glare as she calmly took the bag from him. "You're lucky you make good coffee. This should be enough for a small batch." Kayo reasoned, her tails softly wagging in excitement as her eyes glittered as she smiled, pulling out the Bento she had made for Souei who coolly took the gift from her, trying to hide the small blush on his cheeks. His bento being a dark blue with a blue origami shuriken holding the chopsticks together on top.
"Now that I think about it. It has been some time since we clashed blades Lord Kayo." Hakuro mentioned, and everyone tensed at his words for various reasons. "I hope you haven't been slacking in your sword training." The old Kijin mused as Kayo gave a nervous laugh. "I'm afraid father won't let me slack off, since I'm doing well in my other subjects, he takes some time to train me personally." the kitsune mentioned, slightly bragging as her tails swished and curled.
"Then how about we test how well my student has been training you." Hakuro suggested with a fond smile, thinking of his dwarven student. "I have no problems with that Master Hakuro, but can we not bet desserts this time?" Kayo asked, softly whining as she had hated having to hand her sweets over to the sword master. "Of course, but let's make this interesting... If you beat me... I will tell you one of my secrets." the old man mussed as it got his student's attention. "DO IT KAYO!" Gobtia cheered eagerly. "Even if you tie again, he will still have to tell you!" the goblin reasoned excitedly but Kayo seemed unsure.
"Would you feel better if I tell you a secret about Souei form his youth should we draw?" The old man mussed, seeing the kijin ninja stiffen and send a glare at the old man, who only smiled at him. "Hmm? What do you want is you win or if we draw?" the kitsune asked, unsure if the old man wanted anything from her, but it seemed he had to think of something on the spot.
"If I win... you will have to call me Pop-pop, the same if we draw." he happily reasoned, the goblins got confused but Kayo's face turned a very embarrassed shade of red, only Agape ever called the sword master that.
'Oh, Lord Veldanava! Give me strength not to lose!' Kayo softly pleaded as she took a deep breath to calm down.
"Master Hakuro, you are aware that calling you... THAT, is just a cute way of calling you grandpa... right?" Kayo asked, and the only Kijin seemed to think for a short while before laughing out loud. "Hmm, I didn't know you thought of me that way Lord Kayo. Though it's not surprising when I am the teacher of your father, I suppose it is fitting." He mussed fondly, before getting a sinister air about him. "Only... are you admitting defeat so easily? Surely Gazle has not been going soft on you, has he?" Hakuro asked with a sharp look that make the kitsune pale and her tails stiffen out of fear. "N-not at all. He's been training me really hard, even if he allows me breaks to study another subject." Kayo informed the kijin before pulling out her master sword form her tails, still in its small deceptive sheath.
"Oh? Then let's see how much stronger you have become my little grandchild." Hakuro mussed as the training grounds where quickly cleared for the two to safely spar, the air tense as Kayo slipped off the soiled apron and top, leaving her in a black tank top that exposed the plump caramel skinned biceps that caught many of the human's attention. Along with how the tank top bulged over the kitsune woman's chest and relaxed before it fell down to her wide hips. It didn't help that Kayo had shifted her form into her dwarven one, slipping away her ears and tails, allowing a good look at how her slacks stretched over her plump backside.
"Whoa! That was hidden behind those fluffy tails?" One human asked, greatly admiring the woman's figure, only to pale in fear as they felt the glares of two strong kijin warriors on him. Rimuru gave a nervus chuckle as he saw this and had admired his sister's womanly figure a little himself. Kayo pulling out her sword, shocking everyone as it was a full-length sword that glittered in the day light with color then drew their attention, Hakuro smiled fondly as he noticed the glittering in Kayo's blue eyes.
Without any prompting, the two disappeared form plane site strange flashes of light, thunderous booms and various scars that appeared on the landscape around them.
"H-how is... this is insane!" Youm yelled in shocked panic as he tried to keep up with the two fighting, along with the other humans who only looked on in shock and confusion. "WOO! Go Kayo! Beat that Old man good!" Gobtia and the other Goblins cheered excitedly, and it wasn't long before the humans did to. "Yeah! Go Lord Kayo!" a few of Youm's men cheered as Youm himself stayed quiet as he tried to watch... catching bits of the two crossing swords, his eyes slowly adjusted to the inhuman speed the two were using.
"Hey Benimaru, who do you think will win this time?" Rimuru asked the crimson Kijin, who was eating his specially made bento with Souei. "Hard to say. I don't know how strong the Dwarf king is nor how skilled he is for myself." He voiced in between bites of his love filled meal, despite it looking a little messy, it did not take away from the savory and lightly sweet flavor of his food. "It will be a tie." Souei voiced as he slowly ate his own food, smirking as he saw Benimaru happily enjoying the purple star shaped vegetables without hesitation.
"You think she will ever beat Hakuro then?" Rimuru asked, laughing a little at the idea before something flew over their heads and crashed into a tree behind them with quite a bit of force... everyone was in shock at what had just happened as they looked at who had crashed into the tree.
"MASTER HAKURO!" Kayo screamed in utter horror; their little spar came to an abrupt end.
~A Few Days Later~
"It's finally time huh?" Youm questioned as the days had gotten much warmer and the roads and paths through the Great Jura Forest where clear of snow, but it wasn't quite spring yet. Sitting in the room he had shared with Rommel and Saitama for what seemed like the last time.
"Y-yeah, we are going to leave today." Rommel voiced as he held his notebook close to his chest, having packed up the small items he had collected while in the Moster City.
"I'm gonna miss this place. It was a fun and terrifying experience. No one would believe us if we told them the truth." Saitama mussed solemnly before giving a soft sigh. "Come on, Lord Kayo wanted us to meet up at the clothing workshop before we leave." He mentioned and picked up his bag that had been a small gift from Santa Claus at Christmas, then again many of the men in Youm's party had received a special bag, one that could hold quite a few items and not get any heavier. There were only a few differences between the average looking traveling bags visually, but the men treasured them dearly.
"Is this where we are going to get our new robes and armor?" Rommel asked, looking excited as they had all been measured for new clothes by the cute clothing store goblinas, their old garments not having survived the grueling training of the kijin and kitsune. While the clothes were also nothing spectacular, they were easy to move in, easy to clean, and resistant to cuts and tares. Along with the delicious foods they were feed, Rommel had grown a few more inches and a few other men no longer looked like fragile sticks. A few men had even volunteered to help train some of the monster nation's massage therapists and some nurses at the hospital, the results where the men looking happier and livelier than ever before afterwards.
"I guess so. You already have a new staff made by Lord Kayo. I wouldn't be surprised if our new clothes have Kitsune fur in them too. We pulled a lot off of her to do so." Youm mentioned, smiling fondly at the memory of helping the kitsune leader. Leading his group to the clothing show where a few men had already been given their new gear. Not just clothing, but a bit of armor and some new weapons.
"Wow! They look so good~!" Rommel admired the men showing off their armor that was line with white and blue fur, a mix of Tempest wolf and kitsune fur and some simple capes with a wooden kitsune/slime symbol clasped over their hearts.
"Hey Youm! Better get your butt in there. Master Hakuro and Lord Kayo have been waiting on ya." one of the men informed the champion who gulped nervously. "Yeah, thanks. I'll head right on in." the man responded and bravely entered the building before he was grabbed and somehow twirled around in a fury of black and white fur.
"Done!" Kayo chippered happily as the goblinas and Hakuro looked on in amazement of the kitsune woman's strange skill of redressing others very quickly.
"Huh!? What!? How did?" Youm questioned in pure shock as he looked down at himself, now clad in new clothes and armor befitting a champion. 'How the hell did she do this? Did she even?' the champion questioned and carefully took a peek under his pants to see a brand-new pair of black underpants.'S-she even changed my underwear.' He thought with a hint of dread, missing what the kitsune was eagerly explaining to him.
"Youm? Youm! Are you listening?" Kayo asked as she snapped her fingers with a bit of Haki to it, snapping the human out of his stunned daze. "Huh? I'm sorry Lord Kayo I wasn't expecting to be dressed up so quickly." He told her nervously as he saw her give him an annoyed look, before waving it off. "Understandable, but what do you think about your new weapon? It should be more then fitting for a champion." Kayo mussed as a kitsune presented the sword to the human. Youm looked at it in aww, he had only ever seen a sword like this being used as a decoration in a noble's house or in a high-end shop.
"Pick it up. See how it feels." Kayo encouraged and the man gulped before grabbign the handle of the weapon and... it seemed to sparkle when he picked it up. "Hmmm~ what a lovely sound. They did an excellent job with this." Kayo praised; eyes closed as she let her ears twitched happily at hearing the melody that came from the sword the 3 great blacksmiths of Tempest had created.
"It's... light?" Youm marveled in slight confusion, testing the weapon's weight and balance carefully in the shop. "It was made with you in mind, that and your training has strengthened your body to a higher level than what it once was." Hakuro mussed proudly.
"Of course, I hope you can keep up with your diet too. Your body is stronger but it still needs the right care to keep it that way. You can still drink and enjoy yourself from time to time but please do not forget that too much will wreck all our hard work. Also, don't be fooled by women or men who are overly friendly with you. You will likely only set your self-up for disappointment." Kayo scolded the human, poking him in the head as she reminded him.
"Okay Mom." Youm joked, smirking as it seemed to stop the kitsune woman from scolding him. "Don't call me that!" Kayo hissed angerly at him, her tails and fur standing on end as she wrapped her arms around her stomach as she growled at him.
"Lord Kayo! Thank you so much! Are these all made with your fur?" Rommel asked, having been allowed to get dressed by himself.
"What? This stuff... is really your fur?" Youm questioned, as Kayo nodded. "Except for the leather and armor, of course. It's not Hell moth silk of course, since that's pretty hard to make. We still have a lot more of it to trade to Dwargon and maybe Blumund. It was difficult to dye of course but it's worth it. Your wearing clothes made out of the first dyed bolts of MY fur. So you better take good care of it." Kayo told him and the human took off one of his gloves and ran his callused hand over the silk like fabric in wonder as it strangely felt warm but not stifling.
"Thanks. I will." He mussed before Kayo nodded.
"Good now that you all dress it's time to show you your transport and pick out your noble steed. To the stables!" Kayo shouted out excitedly, pickling up Youm in her excitement with one hand. "Agh! Put me down you crazy fox!" He yelled as he was once again reminded of the woman's strength, lifting him up while he had on armor and his weapon with ease.
~Tempest Stables~
"Wow! Are these really ours?" Rommel asked as he saw the two large wagons that were hooked onto some strong looking horses. The young mage carefully walking up to the black horse and carefully offered it a carrot, which it took happily from the human.
"Yup~! A few of them are going elsewhere since winter is over. There's not much need for them here. Why did you think I had some of you working here? So you can bond with a horse and can move about more quickly easily then by just walking." Kayo mussed as she led a few of the party inside the full stables that had plenty of beautiful horses.
"Ah. So we weren't just free labor then? Huh? I think only nobles have horses this nice." Youm questioned as he looked at some of the familiar animals, hot having gotten along with most of them, as his men seemed to have bonded with some of them.
"You could say I got them for a steal~." The kitsune mussed and she guided Youm more threw the sables, the man not liking any horse and none of them liked him.
"Agh, thanks Lord Kayo, but I'm not much of a horse man...maybe one of those wolves? That would be kinda cool?" Youm asked carefully as Kayo took that suggestion carefully.
"Oh! Kayo! You're here I have to ask you a serious question." Eren appeared and quickly walked up to the kitsune woman who looked at her in confusion. "Sure what is it Eren?" Kayo asked, giving the young woman a soft smile. "Why are you keeping that baby unicorn here? It should be with its herd; it's not injured or sick so why are you keeping it?" the blond asked seriously, Kayo frowned at the mentioned of the baby unicorn. "Oh? Sadly... it seems like they abandoned her. Of course, there is nothing wrong with her as far as even I can tell. She's perfectly healthy." Kayo told her as Youm was curious and went to take a look as the two women talked.
He peeks into the stall to see the young horse alone, laying down with a Rimuru shaped ball on the tip of its small sliver horn, it's mane a dull gray that dotted its white coat, it's eyes a dull dark green, looking at him sadly. "Hey there. So... you got abandoned too? That's rough." Youm spoke softly to the animal, feeling a little stupid for talking to it but he had talked to kitsune's in their animal forms, so it wasn't completely crazy.
"Hungry? I was supposed to eat this, but I think you will like this more." Youm asked and pulled out a green apple and held it out to the animal, weary at first, it sniffed the odd offering and then took a nibble out of it slowly.
"There ya go... you know... the kitsune is really nice. She will take good care of you. You seem to be okay, no wounds at all. I guess you were to slow or something?" Youm asked, and was surprised the unicorn nuzzled him, its eyes looking a little brighter.
"Oh~ sweet baby Milim." Kayo voiced in shock; Youm looked over at her in confusion as Eren looked excited. "Aww~ she like you Mr. Youm." the blond cooed as the kitsune slowly approached the two. Only for the unicorn to get angry and try to stab her with its covered horn.
"Whoa~, easy girl~. I'm not here to hurt ya." she assured it and backed away; a bit amused as she looked at Youm. "Do you want to take her? I can't get close to train her though, so you will have to do it." she asked, and Youm looked at the young unicorn in confusion.
"Eh? Sure, it could be cool to ride a horse with a weapon on its head." he told the kitsune who turned away to muffle her laughter. "Now you're REALY going to have to be more careful of overly friendly people." Kayo mussed as Youm still seemed confused as the kitsune waved to Saitama. "Sai~. You won't believe it. Youm is getting a unicorn." she told the bald man who looked at her before he started laughing loudly.
"A what?" Youm asked, confused as he had no idea what a unicorn was, before Eren gasped in realization, blushing red before she delivered an embraced punch to the kitsune's side. "You tricked me." the girl accused as Kayo only smiled at her. As it was a quick way to tell if the Elven Archduke's daughter was still 'pure'.