"Hey," a soft voice threatened. "Look how comfortable you are sleeping upon my glass." Kurama watched the slow breathing rhythm of the demon child curled upon the glass. "You're not worried that I will break through." He used his strength to move one arm. His finger nails tapping against the glass. "How trustworthy."
"Stop harassing her," the nine-tailed murmured. "She's going to be our savior."
"Hmph," Kurama glanced at him. All their ears twitched to the sound of someone coming.
"Wake her up!" The eight-tail gasped out as she woke up. Others started to wake up with distress.
"Hoshimi, Kurama is going to get you," Kurama whispered. She jolted awake. "Hide. Now." He growled. She glanced back at him before jumping into the blooming flower that hid her. He let out an inner relief as light shined in from above. The soldiers hit against his chakras, instead of growing another tail, he grew two. Those that had seven tails and up grew into nine and were ready for breeding. Kurama watched the terrariums leave.
"You're going to have new friends," the demon chuckled.
New terrariums were moved into the room. Kurama observed all of them. They were mostly young ones with only one tail. He knew the flower was growing again. He observed the other foxes as this happened. They were in awe as the demon child stretched.
"What's a child doing here?" One of them eyed her. "Hey child, aren't you lost?"
"Hm?" She looked around. "New ones? Did the others go for breeding?" She eyed Kurama. He nodded to her. "I'll be back." She scurried up the terrarium to go through the secret door. Kurama watched her leave.
Hoshimi scurried away to keep working on the mechanism that would unleash all the foxes from their containment areas. It was a complicated mechanism. There were a lot of adjustments to make as the more things she learned about the place. She headed started to head back when more humans caught her eye. She started to follow them until a striking demon caught her eye. A golden bodied demon with purple eyes and teal markings. His long purple hair framed as a handsome male.
He spotted her since she was pausing behind a corridor. He headed towards her. "What a cute little child." His eyes flashed. "What is a child doing here?" Hoshimi could not move out of fear. He picked her up. "Your growth is stunted as well."
"Wh-where are you taking me?" She stammered out, realizing what was happening.
"I'm taking you with me," he cooed. He stroked her head. "It's been ages since I've seen a different type of demon."
"You're not going to hurt me, are you?" Hoshimi gripped onto him.
"No, I would not dare," he took her to his chambers.
"Where am I?" She looked around. "I was adopted by humans and ended up through a portal again. Am I back in Demon World?"
"Yes, yes you are," he set her down on a sofa. "What is your name little one?"
"Umeko," Hoshimi blinked as if it was obvious.
"Such a pretty name," the golden demon spoke.
"What's yours?" Hoshimi watched him retrieve some items.
"Tatsuo," he replied.
"Are you hiding?" She watched him set down some clothes and a few books. "Are those for me?"
"Yes," he smiled. "Now about your condition." He lifted her chin up. "Would you like to be older?"
"Is there a way?" Hoshimi was perplexed.
"If you earn it, you may become older," he let go and headed out.
"Where you going?" Hoshimi perked up.
"If you earn it, you may get to know," he gave her a wink before leaving.
Hoshimi read through the books as he left. She waited until he was gone before searching around his room. It had a few clues but nothing concrete. She waited for him to come back. He brought back food for her.
"What's this?" Hoshimi sniffed it.
"You ask so many questions," he sat down next to her.
"I'm a child, of course I ask," Hoshimi gave him an incredulous look. "Is this human?" He nodded. Hoshimi pushed it away and stick out her tongue. "I don't eat human."
"Why not?" Tatsuo pushed it back. "It will make you stronger."
"We're not allowed to eat humans anymore," Hoshimi pushed it again.
Tatsuo tilted his head to the side. "Why are you not allowed to eat humans?"
"The King said so," Hoshimi was taken aback.
"What King?" Tatsuo narrowed his eyes.
"Is that why you're hiding?" Hoshimi pushed it away. Tatsuo grabbed it.
"Tell me more about this King," Tatsuo almost ordered as he placed the food in front of her. Displaying that it wasn't going to move anymore.
"He rules over Demon world," Hoshimi turned up her nose to it.
"I thought there were three kings," Tatsuo was leading her on.
"Yeah but something happened and they had a tournament," Hoshimi glanced at the other food. "All demons could fight to become king. The first rule for the king was 'no harm is to come to humans.' I can't eat humans, we caused harm to them."
"Hmph," he smirked. "You didn't harm them, you can eat it. You didn't break the rule."
Hoshimi thought about. "Okay." She started to eat the food keeping her disgust hidden.
"Good," Tatsuo was amused. "I'll let you in on something." Hoshimi kept eating. "I am not hiding from this King but soon I will be the new King. Since I have been here for a long time, would you know any names of demons that are still alive?" Hoshimi shrugged her shoulders. "Never mind. Eat up."
Tatsuo gave her a smile before leaving. Hoshimi waited a good while until he was gone. She hurried out to the secret room. Hoshimi tried to make herself vomit. She didn't want to eat those innocent humans. She vomited everything up. Hoshimi heard footsteps. She scuttled into the secret room while wiping her mouth.
The foxes watched her come in. She seemed in a hurry. Kurama sensed that something was not right. She didn't even hesitate jumping into her flower. There were whispers of uncertainty.
"Brother," Hoshimi almost yelled. "Brother!"
"Hoshimi, I'm here," Hotaka sensed her urgency. "What is it?"
"I met him," Hoshimi blurted it out. "He's using humans as fodder. He wants to become King of Demon World."
"Hoshimi we know that is his plan," Hotaka tried to calm her down.
"Get Sahar!" Hoshimi commanded. "He's like Sahar."
"Sahar?" Hotaka widened his eyes. "That bounty hunter?"
"Yes!" Hoshimi almost yelled. "Ask him if knew a Tatsuo. Or someone with teal markings and purple eyes and long purple hair. I need to go. He'll be waiting."
"Wait!" Hotaka clenched his fists as the flower budded back up. He yelled out commands. "Get me Sahar! Hoshimi if you get yourself in trouble, even avenging you, this world would never be the same. You are all the family I have left. Don't get hurt!" He pounded onto the table.
Hoshimi got out of the flower. She started to head back out. Her heart racing with anticipation. She had several thoughts going through her mind. She could take out Tatsuo since he started to trust her. She thought about a way to end his life without jeopardizing everything.
"Don't leave just yet," Kurama ordered.
She didn't hear him.
"Where do you think, you're going?" He growled.
She paused to stare at him. "I'm sorry," Hoshimi pleaded. She headed back to Tatsuo's room.
Tatsuo was asking his sorters about certain demons. He was surprised that they were all dead. He gave some new orders. Back in his room, he saw Umeko sleeping.
"Little one, it's time to grow up," he petted her head. He then punched her chakras. Hoshimi knew what he was doing and transformed into an older version of the demon child. "Beautiful." He grazed her cheek. "You'll have to stay here for the time being."
"Master!" One of the soldiers came into the room. "We have everything assembled to head into Spirit World."
"Good, we head there at once, I need those fiends to help me conquer the worlds," Tatsuo tied her hands together before tying it to the bed post. "I can't let you roam around just yet." He stood up. "I need their bodies to be reformed as we speak. I need men ready to track down reapers."
"We have the list of demons being reformed already," the soldier explained as the two closed the door.
Hoshimi opened her eyes. She struggled to get out of her restraints. "Koenma!" She whispered. "Spirit World!" She tugged but her strength was unable to break it. She transformed into the kid version again. It was only for a few seconds before she involuntarily transformed back into the adult version. She could get out of her restraint. Yet if she needed to use that form again, she would have to transform back in her fox form but that could not be possible with everything going on. She heard footsteps. Hoshimi transformed again putting her restraints on again. She went back to sleep. The guard watched over her from the outside. She sat up once figuring that he was not going to come in. "Kurama!" She whispered.
His ear twitched. Kurama opened his eyes but only saw the room. He narrowed his eyes. "Has a little girl came through?"
"No," one of the young males spoke. "Such an interesting girl. Is she one of the children from the army he is building?"
"I told her not to get into any trouble," Kurama curled his lip. He started to brace against his restraints.
"What are you doing?" Another looked at him.
"Hey!" Another spoke up. "Stop risking our lives for some meaningless child."
Kurama stopped. His eyes pierced every single fox in the room. The others tried to apologize to Kurama.
"Kurama?" One male scoffed as he heard the name. "The rumored so called Great Kurama, a master thief that could get into any vault. HA! Look where he is now. Caught like the rest of us. You're not so great. Your name was a legend for all of us. A hero. Yet here we are, face to face with him." Kurama ignored him. He struggled again against the restraint. "It's no use. If you're here, we're all screwed. So much for believing in someone like you."
Hoshimi was about to transform again when the guard opened the door. He was in surprise at the beautiful demon restrained in his Master's bed. "H-here is your meal." He set down the tray before leaving her again. "I-I'll be outside if you need anything."
Hoshimi stared at the food. "I got to warn them. Spirit World is in trouble. Where is Yomi when you need him?" She started to struggle again when she saw the soldier peeking into the room. "It's no use unless I give away my position."