Chapter 3: Tomoe

For the next 25 annoying years I have trained myself, that infuriating white fox came to visit me frequently. At first, he said, it was on orders to persist on the offer. Now he was using it as an excuse to just come and see me. I learned on the very second meeting that his name was Tobi, without asking. I had made sure that those meetings were always away from my den. About 15 years ago, I had finally asked why he even bothered seeing me so often when his task was no longer considered.

He surprised me when he said he wanted to get to know me, and he intended to mate me. I was irritated at his arrogance and made sure that it was known. He didn't come back for a week afterwards. *snicker* 10 years after that he still persist after me. That was when I noticed he started to slowly fall from the divine, 5 years ago. I admittedly did not want to see him fall, so I gave him one night in a cheap Inn in a rash decision to help him get over me.

It was that same night that I noticed he already fell days before. When I stopped him from putting his mating mark on me, his eyes turned red and furious. Before he could do anything, I killed him. I bathed to get his scent and blood off of me like the others. Although, they usually leave in the morning alive, well, most of them anyhow.

It was the next day when I was burning his body and the soiled bedding, that I noticed I had a developing life within me. Usually, it was frowned upon for females to have a child before they mate, but with my reputation and status within the youkai society, it wouldn't be a problem. I am powerful with 4 tails; I have vast amount of knowledge, and many connections. So, I decided to keep the child within me.

I made preparations in my den to welcome the unborn child into the world. I stored food. In my time of preparation, it had become autumn. It was the end of spring when I laid with Tobi. That was my time of year, so I expected it since I started to bleed during that time in the bed. I was half way into my pregnancy with my child by the time it was winter. It would be born in the coming summer.

I came to a town to hire a couple of fox hand maids. I had enough food for all of us. The days passed slowly as my belly swelled. Any youkai who dared to provoke me met an untimely end when I went out to walk or relieve myself. The hand maids were a good choice for when I could not do much on my own later on. I soon had to revert to my fox form throughout the rest of my pregnancy. I wagged my 4 tail as I felt my baby kick.

When it came time for my labor, it was early summer. After hours of pain and contractions, it was finally over. The baby was a boy. He had Tobi's silvery white fur. His whines for air were high pitched as I could hear when half of my hand maids swept him away to get him all cleaned up. I panted tiredly when the rest of my handmaids helped clean me up. When he returned cleaned, I curled around him as he suckled. I tried to think of a name for him, but my tired mind could not think of one. I absently licked his downy soft fur when I smelled the handmaids on him. He is mine. He was my beautiful fox pup.

Then I suddenly remembered the archers I trained with in Inu no Toshio's palace when I would most frequently see puppy-form-Sesshomaru running about in his mischievous stage. Their arm bands had a tomoe on them. The fond memories I have then helped me decide on this babe's name. That and my fox pup look so beautiful at the moment that he could look like a girl.

"This child's name shall be Tomoe from my fond memories."

I smiled as much as I could in my fox form at Tomoe. I will take care of this child and watch him grow.

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In 3 days, Tomoe opened his eyes to show me his smoky blue eyes. He had my eyes. Mimi, my only hand maid left to help me out in food and babysitting, set about in a happy flurry, cooing over my son. Tomoe only focused on me and whined for my attention. I nuzzled him with happy tears in my eyes.

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6 months passed and now he is teething and trotting around my den. I listened to his yips and barks as I walked in with fresh food and more money. I had caught a large wild boar and gathered wild vegetables and herbs in the straw basket on my back. After dropping off the food in the area known to be the kitchen, I hopped over the straw fence I weaved to keep Tomoe from wondering in and hurting himself.

I strode in his room to see what he was up to. He was teething on a large strip of leather. His ears twitched and he looked up at me with the most adorable grin ever! His fluffy soft tail thumped on the ground before wagging in the air as he sprinted to me. I saved him the trouble by scooping him up and cuddling him to me. Mimi just smiled serenely.

"Oh, Tomoe! You are just too adorable! Mimi, I brought home some food. Would you mind preparing it for tonight? I'll play with Tomoe, so he'll be tired for bed afterwards."

"Not at all"

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Another year went by and he learned to morph into his humanoid form. Afterwards, he crawled towards me gurgling first word, "Mama". I was so surprised at how happy I was to hear him say that. I rested my forehead to his and nuzzled his cheek with mine. His skin tone was the same as mine. Tomoe may have his father's fur color and gender, but he is looking to take after me.

I placed him on the floor next to the table, so I could finish up dinner. Mimi was dismissed with her pay and good tidings. As a common fox youkai who had lived long, she was getting old in the past years.

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When I taught him basic principles and common tongue, I let him go hunting with me. Later, I took him to the kind youkai town that was nearest to our den.

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Many years, about 700 years in fact, have gone by and I have aged little, but my son, Tomoe, has grown into a young man and will have his aging will slow extremely. This was about the time he leaves his mother's den. I was leaving as well to travel the world on my fox fire, maybe find a mode of transportation while I'm at it, and Tomoe with also travel around to get a feel of the world, form his own opinions, and learn new things. I taught him almost everything I know already. Hopefully, he will train to gain his 9 nine tails like I hope to have. Right now my 6 other tails were hidden so not to get too uncomfortable in my kimonos. I only show one of my tails now-a-days. So far, Tomoe had only earned his first tail. He may be powerful enough to go against a god, even with one tail, but he will need his other tails as well.

I sealed my den and admired what a handsome man my son has turned into. I smiled and hugged him. My head can now only reach his chest. I wanted to blubber, but I don't want our parting sad since we will, hopefully, meet up again. I let him go reluctantly and watched him head off. I used my foxfire to fly off to where Goshinboku would be.

I landed in the woods. I looked for him, but in the patch of grass I saw in the beginning of my journey was a young tree. I smiled and had an idea. I used one of its leaves to cast an illusion on myself to look human. I traveled to the beginnings of a village where, as a human and further in the future, I will meet Kaede. I went to a small newly build shrine and asked for some sacred water under the disguise that I was going to pour it over a grave of someone dear to me. They relented at my crocodile tears and gave me a good sized vial of blessed water.

I trekked to the young Goshinboku and poured the blessed water around it, careful not to spill any on my hands for it would burn. I smiled and watched the soil thirstily drink the water. I turned with a goodbye for now and walked over to where a stone well was situated, releasing my illusion. It was full of water that would soon dry up and the stone replaced with wood. A breeze flowed around my knee calf length hair. I breathed and left towards the mainland to start my journey around the world. A young ghostly boy materialized with messy moss green hair and wood brown eyes. He waved enthusiastically from beside the tree as I flew around the clouds.

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I touched down next to the dry wooden well, hiding my aura until I could feel my younger presence disappear. I scanned my surroundings. It was refreshing to be home again. I walked through the foliage to see Goshinboku standing there in his godly form, a young man with wildly long moss green hair, wood brown eyes, and trim build in a simple brown male kimono. I smiled as he gazed at me and my shown 18 tails admiringly. Since I have lived further and age slower than any fox youkai, I was given the privilege to gaining more tails as I lived and trained.

I have age a couple more years physically since he last saw me. Instead of a young 16 year old looking newbie fox, I am mid 20s looking experienced fox. I nodded towards him. I flicked open my metal fan for him to see. He gave an amused smile. I grinned and turned to the north. With my summoned fox fire cloud, I glided to the northern region. I had my 18 tails merge into two, nine tails per one large fluffy tail.

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Kagome's age: 2,766 years old