Summary: The Freedom Fighters get the chance to meet the sane version of the Kitsune Clan's leader, and they finally say goodbye to the country of Enjou.
Canon Characters in this chapter: Sonic, Tails, Bunnie, Antoine, Sally
Non Canon Characters in this chapter: Kokoro
Kitsune
by WingedHippocampus
Chapter Nine: Farewell
"MILES!" Sally shrieked, and even Sonic suddenly felt a wrench of fear as the kit vanished between the monster's jaws. What had Tails been thinking?!
The ninetails went perfectly still, apparently frozen down to its last hair. Then it suddenly threw its head back in a ground-shaking shriek, and up and down its entire length, a black, viscous fluid began to ooze from amidst the fur, quickly turning the white coat black. A horrible smell filled the air, causing the Kitsune Clan to cough and cringe away. The Freedom Fighters knew that smell intimately, recognizing it at first whiff. It was the same vile stench that pervaded Robotropolis, all the chemicals and pollutants and long stagnant air. Wave upon wave of contamination was pouring right out of the ninetails's body, chased out by the power of the purification stone. The oozing ceased, everything hardening, and glowing white lines crept out along the monster, a net of brilliance amidst the near-fluid dark.
Then the ninetails shattered. It broke into so many hollow pieces, and just like some brittle clay figure, it collapsed in on itself. Silence prevailed for a few shocked moments.
"Tails!" Sonic was first to make a move, plunging right into the vast jumble of solidified pollution to search for his friend. Within seconds, the others were helping, even the kitsune.
"I'm over here," Tails's voice was a bit shaky as he lifted his head out of the pile of oily black shards, coughing. "I'm okay. Since I can fly, I could dodge the teeth as they came down, so he didn't hurt me. I just ended up in the back of his throat and got swallowed is all."
"That's all," Sally cried in exasperation, sweeping the dusty boy up into a grateful hug and covering his face with kisses. "Oh don't you ever do that again, do you hear me?"
"I am theenking thees mad ninetails business ees not happening often," Antoine chuckled, relieved.
"Thank goodness, this's been fun an' all, but ah think ah'm ready t' go home," Bunnie nodded.
"Look!" Tails pointed as Azami and the others pulled a limp but breathing figure from the rubble.
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His name was Kokoro.
Kokoro was the highly revered leader of the Kitsune Clan, the oldest and most powerful kitsune among them, and the only existing ninetails, at least, until he died.
The next day, the ninetails was still so weak that Miyuki would not allow him to leave his bed, so the rest of the Kitsune Clan and the Freedom Fighters would instead gather in his spacious bedchambers, all kneeling in proper respect. Everyone who had been injured was now treated, and the evening had passed quietly despite the massive destruction just outside the residence.
"We have much to thank you for, all of you," he began, his voice soft and weak. This had been quite an ordeal for the old fox. "I do not know how we can ever repay you."
"I do," Sally said, to the surprise of her fellow Freedom Fighters as much as the kitsune. "I know exactly how you can repay us, and repay the people of this land, those who you have brought harm to. This happened, in part, because you kitsune tried to take care of Robotnik's damage yourselves. You've spent so long shutting out other Mobians that you can't seem to lift your xenophobia even for something so important. Robotnik's activities affect everyone who lives here, not just you, and in the end, he affects all of Mobius. This is a threat that must be fought by everyone as a team, the world as one."
Sally's harsh words were met by shocked stares from most of the kitsune. Kokoro, however, only nodded calmly and asked her to continue.
"This house and shrine are in a very defensible position, and can hold far more people than what actually live here. The Kitsune Clan is made up of well-trained fighters, I've seen this for myself. You can use this knowledge of martial arts to train non-kitsune from the surrounding villages. Open your doors to anyone who wants to take a stand against Robotnik. Train them, nurture them, protect them, and fight alongside them in your resistance efforts against this common threat. It will be far more effective than trying to go it alone, and in the meantime, you can offer sanctuary to those suffering under Robotnik's rule. In short, Kokoro-sama, you can repay us by creating and running a Freedom Fighter base here in Enjou."
"Your words have wisdom, and my ordeal has shown me the error of our ancient but misguided ways," Kokoro, much to the shock of his clan, immediately agreed, rather than reprimanding her for her straightforwardness. "I have much to atone for, and that seems a fine place to begin. It shall be done, Sally-hime."
"Thank you, Kokoro-sama," Sally smiled, bowing her head.
"Now, as to the young Kitsune of Wind," the old fox stroked his long, slender beard and shifted slightly to look over at Tails. "It seems we owe him much as well. I have heard much of you already. With such bravery, intellect, and ability at such a young age, you would make a proud addition to this house."
"I…I don't know that I'm who you think I am, sir," Tails said, fidgeting. "But if it turns out that I'm the Kitsune of Wind, I'll come back in a few years, and let you train me. For now, I think I'd like to stay…" he looked up at Sonic, Sally, Bunnie and Antoine, and even Azami, giving them a smile, "…I'd like to stay with my family."
"Very well, little one, it shall be as you say," he nodded, smiling a bit himself. Tails thought he saw that same kind of warmth in Kokoro's eyes as he had seen in Azami's, and he felt quite comfortable.
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"Nice of 'em t' let us keep th' dinner clothes," Bunnie grinned over at Sally as they began to leave the Kitsune no Kami shrine behind. They had made new friends, gained the respect of the Kitsune Clan, and established a new point of resistance against Robotnik. All in all, it had been a productive week. "Y' sure y' don't wanna keep yours, Sally-girl?"
"I can't possibly think of any occasion I could wear a junihitoe in Knothole, I would look ridiculous," Sally replied, rolling her eyes. She had politely declined taking the junihitoe, but Miyuki had gifted her with some expertly made salves, and Hanako had given her seeds from which rare medicinal plants would grow.
"What are you talking about, you looked ridiculous wearing it here, too!" Sonic said helpfully, earning himself a sharp glare.
"Sonic, ah see you an' Antoine came outta this with souvenirs, too," Bunnie observed.
"Oui, ma belle, but eet ees wort' haveeng zese at home. New knowledge weel keep enemies on zere toes, no?" Antoine was cheerfully burdened, carrying a pair of bamboo practice swords Azami had called 'shinai', two wooden ones called 'bokken', and an ancient set of beautifully made swords involving both katana and kodachi.
"What've you got there, Sonic?" Bunnie pointed to a mysterious container he was carrying atop his folded kimono.
"Wasabi, and lots of it!" Sonic grinned.
"I think it's wonderful that you're discovering foods other than chili dogs, Sonic," Sally said.
"What are you talking about? The wasabi is going on the chili dogs!"
"Oh, Sonic," Sally groaned and just moved on ahead. "Miyuki said there is a man near the coast who has fuel we can use in the plane, I'd like to get there before dark."
"Yeah yeah." Sonic smirked and looked over at Tails, who had been silent. "You okay, Tails? Having second thoughts or something?"
"No, Sonic," the fox kit smiled up at him. "I'm fine."
"Well, did you ever figure out who you are and all that?"
"I did, Sonic. I now know exactly who I am," Tails said as he reached to take Sonic's hand.
"Yeah?"
"I'm your lil bro."
"Yeah, you are," Sonic replied, giving the child's hand a little squeeze. "Hey, race you back down the mountain!"
"You're on!"
The other three watched hedgehog and fox as the two bolted out of sight, banks of rich autumn leaves coiling in their wake.
All was right with their little world.
The End
So ends my first –completed- serial fanfiction.
I REALLY wanted to throw in a hint that Tails might, in a thousand years, (it takes a thousand years for a kitsune to grow nine tails) become the new Ninetails and Kitsune Clan Leader, but for one thing, I couldn't figure out where to put it without interrupting the flow, and for another, I'm supposed to be leaving it up to the reader as to whether or not Tails is really a legendary Kitsune.
Me? Oh yeah. Totally. I mean seriously, here comes this gold-colored, multitailed fox with strange abilities in a game that came from a country where legends of multitailed foxes with strange abilities, and who are usually in gold, silver, or white, abound. I think mystic Kitsune is –exactly- what the creators were going for. BUT. Draw your own conclusions, I left everything nice and open. (I'm still going to draw Tails as a Ninetails later, though, whee!) Oh yeah, speaking of drawings, each and every one of these chapters is illustrated, but I couldn't get any links to work. There's a link to my DeviantArt page in my profile. If you're interested in the illustrations, just click on the picture that is entitled 'Donguri no Okoku: TOC' and there will be a list with links to the art.