"How did you find this?" the old man inquired. He was staring straight forward, off towards the horizon. It seemed almost as if he was in a different world.

"I'm not exactly sure myself."

His head turned in my direction. "Was it the fox?"

I was so stunned I came to an abrupt halt. "Fox?"

He looked troubled like he said something that was taboo. "Never mind. Let's keep walking."

"Okay," I replied and continued to follow him. Is that what you are? A fox?

"Yes. I am the Nine-tails."

I almost fell over at that comment but kept my face apathetic as to not worry the old man. He opened his mouth to say something but I cut him off. "By fox could you mean the Nine-tails?"

Now it was his turn to come to a halt. He had a sort of glitter-in-the-eye look to him. "Yes, that's right."

I could tell the fact that I came up with that response out of the blue like that was troubling him. "He told me," I whispered.

"What?" The old man turned towards me.

"He told me," I said louder but still below normal talking level. "I just met him. Well, you could call it that; I don't even know what he looks like. I've only talked to him."

The old man turned his attention away from me again. "Does he want to help you?" he asked suddenly while I was off-guard.

"Yes, tell him yes."

"He says yes."

"Can you ask him why?"

"Because the fourth made me promise. And…" He never finished his sentence.

"And?" I prompted, mistakenly aloud. I could feel the old man's eyes on me.

"Because I want to see my sister again and maybe show you yours."

I stopped dead in my tracks. We were almost to the forest. I could tell the old man knew something was going on; he didn't interrupt. "Show me…mine?"

"Yes. You have an older sister. Although, even I don't know if she's alive or not."

What's the point in telling me if you don't even know if she's alive?

"Because I don't want you to be scared of her if she does come. You need to trust her."

I couldn't say anything more. Nothing more needed to be said. I had a sister, or at least a possibility of having one, and that's all I needed to know.

A/N: ok, so i was gonna use the sis idea in a different fanfic but i decided to mix. think it'll go much smoother. Lots of ideas in my head. =P -SleepyFox