Chapter 2

I felt my consciousness slowly wake me up, but my eyes refused to open.

I turned to my right and tried to move into a more comfortable sleeping position before the scent of fresh grass filled my nose. I hummed in confusion, my mind only half-awake. Sleeping with a weird scent around me wasn't going to help me at all, so I decided to open my eyes and wake up.

At first, my eyesight was blurry. But then it started to clear up. Once it did, I found myself surrounded by a lush green forest, with only gigantic trees and bushes as company.

Sensing the change in environment, I bolted up from my sleeping position and blinked rapidly. I even rubbed my eyes a couple of times to make sure I wasn't dreaming or even hallucinating.

I placed my palms flat on the grassy ground, feeling the dirt underneath my palms. I took a blade of grass between my fingers and tinkered with it before letting it fall down.

I stood up from my place and looked around me. Suddenly, memories of my lovely tea party with the goddess of death flashed through my mind, reminding me of the supposedly 'favor' she gave me; this extra life of mine.

I was about to walk around before something soft and fluffy collided against my face. I spat it out instinctively and swatted it away and looked forward...

… only to find a tail.

I squealed in alarm before falling back on my bottom. I rubbed my bottom in pain before noticing something attached to it.

I held it and followed it before discovering that the tail was connected to my backside.

And not just one tail.

Six tails.

SIX. HUGE. BUSHY. TAILS.

ALL STUCK TO MY BACKSIDE.

It took me a few moments to process in my brain before I launched myself into a full-blown freak out session.

"WHAT THE HECK IS THIS?!" I cried out loud, my hands stuck at the sides of my head.

As if sensing my confusion and rage, my tails suddenly stuck up and started waving about. The reaction scared me and I tried patting my tails as fast as I could, but one of them smacked me square in the face, knocking me once again on my bottom.

"Oww..." I murmured before staring at the tails behind me. I grabbed one of them and stared at it as if I was expecting it to burst into flames or perhaps start changing color.

I mean, was it normal to wake up in the middle of nowhere with 6 tails stuck to your backside?

Whether or not the Death goddess exists or not, this was beyond the realm of possibilities and the area of acceptable.

I wasn't sure how long I sat there, staring at my tails, but I do know it was long enough for someone to spot me.

"Oi! You!"

Instantly, my mind blanked and I squeaked in fright. I turned around to the source of the voice and saw nothing.

Well, until I looked up.

There was a teenage man looking down at me from his place high up in a tree branch. He had a red bandanna and almond shaped brown eyes. He had some sort of wooden wheel attached to his back and I faintly made out three sickles being held in it. His lips was in a frown and the way he looked at me was as if he was trying to figure out what kind of creature I was.

Sorry man. I'm currently trying to figure THAT out myself.

"U-uh..."

The guy narrowed his eyes at me and jumped down. In a flash, he landed gracefully on the ground and stood up. When he started walking towards me, I was starting to fear for my life. I mean, those sickles looked very, VERY sharp to me.

"Who are you?" he demanded as soon as he was in front of me. He crossed hi arms and scowled, expecting me to answer.

"R-ria." I stuttered out. I was eyeing his sickles warily and took a small step backwards.

He took a step forward.

"What are you doing here?"

'Surviving and trying to figure out what a goddess has done to my body.' I snorted inwardly. But seeing how serious and sensing how intimidating he was, I decided that a snarky reply would not result to a better outcome to this situation.

"Someone captured me."

Luckily, I was a pathological liar who had serious issues before moving on to my next world. Ha!

"And why should I believe you?"

Alright, maybe my skills were a bit rusty.

"You have the upperhand." I said, swallowing my fear and replacing it with a mask of bravery. "I don't even know where this place is."

He raised his eyebrow and looked at the ground. His face turned blank.

"Nice try acting cool and all, but I can clearly see your knees shaking." he stated.

"Oh shut up!" I cried. "Who wouldn't be afraid of some weirdo suddenly appeared in front of you?!"

I saw a tick mark appear on his forehead. Oopsie?

"Me a weirdo? You're the one who has six tails!"

It took me a few seconds to process what he just said before dropping my head low and sulking.

"Don't remind me..." I grumbled.

He looked at me for a few moments before turning his back on me. When he started walking away, I looked up and inwardly started to freak.

"H-hey! Where are you going?" I asked.

He paused in his steps before glancing at me.

"Follow me." he said before leaping high up in the one of the tree branches and running above me.

"Hold up!" I cried in protest as he started gaining speed. I ran as fast as I could but only stayed on the ground.

. . .

About half an hour later, we arrived at wherever this weirdo was planning on taking me.

The man turned to me and gave me an irritated look. "What kind of yokai are you? You can't even keep up with me and I wasn't even running half as fast as I could."

I twitched. "Well, excuse me for having six troublesome not to mention heavy as hell tails holding me back."

He clicked his tongue and walked, motioning me to follow him. As if his irritation was contagious, I glared daggers at him, silently hoping he'll catch fire.

We entered a small Japanese mansion. As we passed by the entrance and took off our shoes, I noticed other yokai buzzing around and just enjoying the day. Some were chatting with others while I caught some older looking yokai drinking beer. They looked so carefree and happy that I wouldn't be surprised that a rainbow could probably pop out of their heads.

"Itaku?"

I turned to the side and saw another yokai approach us. Actually, at first glance, I would've easily mistaken this person to be a human because of how he didn't have any yokai-like appearances. Also, I secretly thought that he was a girl because of the length of his hair.

"Awashima. What do you want?" the man in front of me asked. Ah, so his name was Itaku.

Awashima looked at me and jerked a thumb at my direction.

"Who's she? A girlfriend?" he asked bluntly.

Itaku did a double-take and glared comically at Awashima.

"No you idiot!" he cried before regaining his composure. "She's the unknown source of Fear that entered the village."

"Hehh..." Awashima murmured. He looked at me before suddenly bursting in my private space and staring at my face closely, inspecting me like I was some sort of alien from another universe.

Though if I described myself in that term, it wouldn't be so far off from who I really was.

His gaze then went to my tails. Suddenly he was behind me and poking them and playing with them.

I flushed because my tails were highly sensitive and hurriedly took the one Awashima was playing with in my hand.

"Quit it!" I hissed.

"Ah, so they're sensitive." Awashima said. He then grinned and looked at me evenly. "Your Fear keeps on seeping out of you, so I suggest you try and learn how to control it more. Keep on letting it flow freely around you like that and it's as if you're trying to alert other yokai around that you're here."

We walked down a hallway and some yokai were starting to take notice of us. I saw weird looks sent my way and chilling glares, to which I can freely admit that I wasn't used to at all.

"Hide your tails."

I looked forward. The man didn't spare me a single glance, but he was talking to me.

"How do I do that?" I grumbled, mostly talking to myself than to him.

Apparently he had good hearing because he caught that and gave me yet another look of disbelief. He shook his head and continued forward, choosing to ignore me.

Finally, we reached a room. He stood outside and muttered a greeting.

"Come inside."

He opened the sliding door and gestured me to enter first. Hesitantly, I stepped inside the room and looked around it.

In front of me, three yokai were sitting cross-legged. The one in the middle had a very, very large head for his body. His expression said that he was very tired and there were a lot of eye crusts forming on his eyelids.

"Akagappa-sama." Itaku said as he sat down on his legs.

Seeing that Itaku respected the three elders in front of us, I also sat down on my legs. Well, I tried. It was a bit difficult because of my tail but I endured it.

"Hmmm." The middle elder hummed. "Who are you?"

My tails straightened slightly in fright and surprise but I regained my composure quickly.

"My name is Ria. I-I uh, I'm a kitsune yokai." I said, my voice shaking slightly at the end of the sentence.

"I can see that." Akagappa said. He placed his hand under his chin and stared at me analytically. His expression remained indifferent, but the way he looked at me was starting to creep me out.

I didn't notice that my tails were reacting to my emotions until I heard Itaku hiss under his breath.

"Oi, keep your tails in control you idiot."

I looked at him and gave him an irritated look.

"Shut up! I can't control them!"

A tick mark appeared on his face. "What kind of yokai are you?!"

"That's what I'm trying to find out, you moron!"

"Both of you."

Both me and Itaku froze and regained our composure. A blush of embarrassment made its way on my face as Akagappa hummed.

"… Well we can't do anything about it." Akagappa said. "Looks like you're stuck here in Tono. That is, unless of course, you can try and get out."

"Oh… wait, try?" I repeated. "Are you saying I can't get out of this place even if I wanted to?"

Akagappa nodded. "I don't know where you come from, but here in Tono, if you are going to survive, you'll at least need to know how to severe the Village's Fear. Since now you can't do that… you'll stay here for the rest of your life and eventually die."

I paled.

Akagappa continued. "Although… I'm curious. How did you arrive in Tono? Only few yokai could locate this place and even fewer would dare enter."

His gaze sharpened and I felt the tension in the air increase. It suddenly became harder to breathe and I could feel everybody's gaze land on me.

I swallowed the lump on my throat. The pressure was too much for me. But I already knew what type of place I had just landed in. It was a place where the strongest are praised and where the weak are looked down upon. And I knew what category a yokai like me fit into.

"I-I don't know. I just woke up in the middle of this place. I wasn't even aware of the fact this place existed until recently." I managed to say.

The yokai sitting to Akagappa's right narrowed his eyes.

"And why should we believe you? You could be another one of those stupid Kyoto yokai, possibly spying on us and trying once more to grab powerful yokai from our family and hoard them as your slaves again." He accused.

I blinked owlishly. "Kyoto yokai?"

"Enough." Akagappa said. "And the problem with the Kyoto yokai has been long dealt with, thanks to Nurarihyon's grandson. Hagoromo Gitsune is no more, and without her, the Kyoto yokai wouldn't dare make a move."

"But that's the point. Since Hagoromo Gitsune is gone, wouldn't they look for a new leader?" the yokai beside Akagappa said.

I was starting to get annoyed with him. My tails were shaking slightly in agitation but I tried my best to keep them in control.

"That is impossible. They would follow no one but Hagoromo Gitsune." Itaku said. "I have witnessed first-hand. Only few left when she died, and even still they took her body with them, in hopes of her reincarnating into that very same body again."

Akagappa hummed again and looked at me. My palms were sweaty and I was very fidgety under his gaze. Who was Hagoromo Gitsune? Another yokai?

The situation was so overwhelming that I was surprised I haven't fainted yet. I was weak, yes, but I willed myself not to break.

"You." Akagappa said.

"Y-yes?" I muttered. I mentally smacked myself for sounding so timid and weak.

"You will stay here. Since you are here in Tono, this makes you one of our own." He said.

"Hahh?! Akagappa-sama?!" the yokai beside Akagappa said.

"There is no problem. We had Nurarihyon's grandson here once, and that was only because of his personal request." Akagappa said.

"But do not get the wrong idea. You are not welcomed here. You are going to be watched personally. Until we can determine where exactly your loyalties are, you will not be leaving this place anytime soon." Akagappa finished, his eyes boring holes into my very being.

I gulped and nodded.

"U-understood." I said, trying to get the stutter out of my voice.

Akaggapa turned to Itaku, who was sitting beside me.

"Itaku, you will oversee her training. Tono does not accept weak yokai, and even if she will be kept under surveillance, I would rather she become a worthy yokai before she leaves this place. If she were to die the very second she steps out of this place, it will taint our name." Akagappa ordered.

Itaku stiffened and looked irritated at the fact that I would be stuck with him from now on, but he nodded his head and bowed slightly.

"Yes Akagappa-sama." He said.

"Good. You may go." Akagappa said as he waved his hand.

I slowly stood up from my place, my knees buckling slightly. Only then did I notice how long I was sitting and how numb my legs were. It was difficult walking properly and straight after having exactly no feeling in my legs at all, but I didn't want to show any more weakness towards Akagappa. I had a feeling he wouldn't care if I died during my 'training' or if I died inside Tono.

As soon as we stepped out of the room, Itaku closed the door. I inhaled some air loudly and placed my hand on the opposite side of wall, gasping for air. I felt as if air was a blessing; I couldn't stop gasping.

Itaku scoffed. "You must be the weakest yokai I have ever met."

I twitched and glared at Itaku, but had no power to retort. He noticed this and shook his head before walking down the hallway.

"Where are you going?" I asked once I felt better.

Itaku stopped and turned to me.

"I don't know what Akagappa-sama is thinking, but I will respect his orders and his wishes." Itaku said. "And I do understand where he is coming from."

I blinked. "What are you talking about?"

"We Tono Yokai take pride in ourselves. We are mercenaries and exchange no loyalty cups or sakazuki with anyone. Our loyalties lie only in Tono and Tono alone. If, by any chance, a yokai leaves our village and is killed instantly, that would just taint our name. We are strong yokai who do not bend to anyone's will." Itaku said.

"You, on the other hand, are a complete opposite. You are weak, can barely control your Fear, and can't even defend yourself. If you were to leave this place in that state, you would only bring shame on us. And if there is one thing I hate more than anything, it is me and my people being looked down on." Itaku continued. He walked towards me and stood in front of me. He was only a few inches taller than me, but I felt so small and insignificant compared to him.

His eyes narrowed. "Don't get the wrong idea. We are only training you because you are now inside our village. And inside our village, there is not supposed to be a single yokai who is incapable of defending themselves."

He then leaned away, crossing his arms.

"I'm only training you because you're a pitiful yokai in my eyes. And unless you want to be weak forever and die here, I suggest you suck it up. You're now a part of Tono Village, whether you like it… or not."

Once he finished, he continued walking down the hallway. I could only stare silently, my eyes wide as I tried processing the information he had just given me.

This place was… merciless. I should've been lucky they let me live. But the fact that they only let me live because it was a necessity felt as if they had stabbed a number of knives in my chest. Especially hearing it from Itaku.

I looked down at my hands and saw myself shaking.

'Shaking… I must be really weak, huh…' I chided myself as I fisted my hands. I then shook my head and slapped my cheeks. I closed my eyes for a few moments, relishing the stinging pain on my cheeks before opening them again and looking up.

"Oi Itaku!" I called.

Itaku turned to me and gave me an irritable look.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"You're right. Right now, I'm weak. I can't defend myself. If I were to go against someone like you, I would die in an instant." I admitted.

"But what I'll change. I'll become stronger. I'll train and become stronger than you! In a way, I'm like you. I hate being looked down upon, and I hate being called weak!" I said, my face determined and angered.

I then pointed my finger at him, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Just you watch, you annoying bastard! I'll definitely become strong, stronger than you possibly. I won't let you see me as some weak girl forever. I'll change the way you look at me, you'll see!"

Itaku stared at me. I didn't feel intimidated anymore. I turned my shock and my fear into anger and determination. I died once already, and now I have another chance to live again. Like Hell I'll let myself be weak like this in my second life.

Surprisingly, Itaku smirked.

"That's good to hear. You're now starting to think more like a Tono yokai should." He said.

I smirked back at him.

"Bring it on." I challenged.

[A/N:] Okay, I'm so sorry for not updating for so long! ; n ; My classes were hectic and I had my final exams coming up, so I had no time to think about this story at all. Plus I had writer's block so it was frustrating!

But now that school is over, I should be able to write a couple of chapters. Although I will be in the process of moving to another school, so it might take a long time too… Sorry guys! Please bear with me! ; w ;

Anyways, see you guys later~ o w o)/