Hi and welcome to the second chapter of Fox Demon. This chapter should be a bit longer than the last one because I have a lot of information I want to get through in this chapter. I will be answering the questions of a reader in this chapter. I hope that I answer them all to their satisfaction. Thank you all for the comments. I never expected this much when I started writing. Well as I like to say sit back and enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 2: The Kingdom of Kitsune
The feeling of coldness only lasts for a few seconds but it feels like an eternity. I slowly open my eyes to look at the surroundings in which Kyuubi has brought me too. I nearly gasp at the sight before me. The land is in shambles; trees are dead, the ground is nothing but dirt, no flowers, and no grass, no anything. Occasionally a small home litters the scenery but most are abandoned. This place seems desolate, and I fear sorrow for the people that call this place home. A growl escapes from Kyuubi's throat. I can feel his anger rising and resist the urge to cringe at his growing chakra levels.
"This is your villages fault girl. You have much to make up for," Kyuubi states glaring at me.
He still hates the village for imprisoning him inside the body of a human for so many years even if he is getting some revenge with me here. I can see why now though. These lands show promise I can tell that this land was once a prosperous one but now it is nothing but a bunch of ruins with most of its people scattered about it waiting for someone to return to power or take back the power from someone who is not the rightful person or is abusing the power. Being that my chakra type is mostly earth, I can feel the pain that the land is in. It wishes for its master to return after his much to long of an absence.
"Understand this Sakura, once you step onto my lands the energy of it will force you to become a fox demon and once you do there will be no turning back into a human. You will follow all of my orders and my first one is for you to cross over that border," Kyuubi commanded and said my name with a tint of anger in his tone.
My body wanted to freeze in place at the tone he used but my heart and mind would not let me disobey his order because I had vowed to obey his every word or suffer the consequences. My body moves slowly from my spot beside him and across the border. As soon as both of my feet stood on the ground that Kyuubi called his so many years ago and will most likely reclaim soon my knees buckle under me from the energy being forced into my body. I do not resist the power because I have the feeling that the pain will only get worse from my resistance. The energy flowed slowly through my body changing things at an even slower pace. It seems that these lands know the displeasure their lord has with me. It seems it knows that I am here to repay a "debt" owed to Kyuubi by my village and is causing me more pain to try and please its master.
"Enough," Kyuubi growls out.
I felt the pain lessen enough to where I can stand it without having to hold back the screams that were trying to push past my lips before. My bones still felt like they were being ground into powder and then forced to reshape into something new. My face lengthened into a snout and my tail bone lengthened and split. Once all of my bone reshaped themselves, what I hope is the final stage begins. Fur begins to pop out of my skin causing more pain but the pain began to lessen as I force myself to stretch. I sense the approach of Kyuubi and look over at him. Kyuubi has turned into his larger form which is surprisingly only a few inches taller than me.
"Good you have eight tails; you shall be of great use to me girl. The only thing is your fur color which is white with black around your paws, which is weird. Now follow and stay silent until told otherwise," he commands walking away from me and towards the center of the territory.
Kyuubi makes us travel swiftly through the lands making things blurry and hard to tell what distance we have covered. I keep a few feet behind him and to his right. I start to get used to this form quickly and I begin to enjoy the run not long after. It feels good to stretch these muscles that I have never had to use before. My mood is dampened by the knowledge that I am here to serve Kyuubi and the state of the land. I soon see a castle come into view. It is in better shape than most places but it still looks bad. I look over at Kyuubi and I can see the anger in his eyes. To no one else would there have been any emotion there but since I was friends with his ex-host I know what to look for concerning emotions.
Kyuubi slows our pace as we approach the granite castle walls and thick oak gate. There are cracks in the castle walls and when people inside of the walls open the gate I hear the sound of the hinges creak nearly making me cringe. Kyuubi walks right through the gate and I stay a few steps behind him. A five tailed and deep orange furred kitsune steps forward and bows his chest to the ground before dipping his head nearly to the ground.
"Welcome back, Kyuubi-sama," he says in a deep tone that almost reminds me of one of the sound ninja I faced a long time ago.
"What have you done in my castle, Katsuro," demands Kyuubi in an angry tone.
"Nothing my lord but try to keep it ready for your return," the five tail tells him.
I can sense that this is a lie and wonder what Kyuubi will do. I look over at him and wait for his reaction or if he knows of the lie.
"Kitsune approach," Kyuubi commands.
It takes me a moment to realize he is using my ANBU name instead of using my normal name. My hackles start to rise but I stop it because it is really an acknowledgement of my strength and knowledge as well as him letting me know that he is in need of my abilities as a ninja. I step closer to him and come to a stop beside him waiting for orders.
"Truth or lie," Kyuubi demands in a growl.
"Lie," I answer automatically with no pause to even think it over.
"Find me my truth," he commands in a deadly tone.
I can hear a tone of disgust in his voice. Just like Naruto he hates betrayers and liars as well. He wants people to be fully loyal to him and no one else. I walk towards the fox named Katsuro and look deep into his eyes activating my ability to search the mind. Many foxes back away from Katsuro and are shaking in fear of me. They do not know me and do not know of my abilities so they have a right to fear me. I see Katsuro doing many things to try and take over Kyuubi's lands but his tries only caused more damage.
I start to circle Katsuro as I say, "Betrayal, a great betrayal. Even if it was originally to help the land, it turned into a hope for power. You tried to take his place and the rejected you because the real lord was alive and well. It rejected you because of you weaknesses and lack of power. Someone with lesser tails could of out smarted you in an instant and you would be dead. You rummaged through his rooms searching for answers and started to plot ways to find and kill him. You betrayed your lord for your own purposes even though you knew it could never happen."
Towards the end of my word my voice is nearly a hiss. I can feel the anger flowing off of Kyuubi and Katsuro. Kyuubi is angry with the person who was supposed to look after the lands for him while he was gone. Katsuro was angry with me for finding out his truths so easily. Katsuro takes a swipe at me but I dodge out of the way with the ease I have known for many years as a ninja since I have become a medic ninja.
"You dare to accuse me of such things, bitch," growls Katsuro as Kyuubi moves to step forward. "Kyuubi-sama, why do you believe this bitch?
A growl escapes from my lips but Kyuubi's glare at me commands me to be silent. I silence myself knowing better than to disobey an order so soon. Kyuubi circles Katsuro in a way similar to the way I did moments before. I finally get to see the Kyuubi in a hunting form that is not against me or someone I know.
"Kitsune has sworn to serve me just as you have. I have seen her skills and know what she is capable of. She follows my orders and my orders only," Kyuubi hisses when he comes to a stop a few inches short of Katsuro's face.
"The bitch has not served you as long as I have. I do not even know her," Katsuro forces out between his teeth.
I can feel some fear starting to flow off of him. He knows he has been found out and fears what his leader will do to him for his betrayal. I somewhat feel sorry for the bastard but he keeps calling me a bitch. Which is also making curious, am I technically a bitch or not. I stop my curiosity in its tracks and turn my attention back to the events happening before me. I know Kyuubi will most likely order the fox demon killed but will he carry it out himself, order someone else to do it, or possible command me to do it to test my willingness to follow all of his orders. A hiss travels up my throat but I stop it before it can escape from my mouth.
"Kitsune has walked the Earth Realm these past twenty-three years(Sakura's age) that I have been gone and she has been by my side for many years of my having been gone. As I said I know he capabilities and that ability she has will not let her lie about what she finds. Which means, you have performed the ultimate form of betrayal while I was gone and tried to take my place," Kyuubi hisses in an irritated tone. "Find me the other betrayers, Kitsune."
My slow steps between the foxes cause many of them to shake in fear of being accused. Some of these foxes are such a dark orange that they could be considered black foxes if they were any darker while others are such a light orange I can practically call them peach in color. I push the betrayers forward with a snap of my tail each time I find one. In total, twelve foxes in the castle have betrayed Kyuubi. I am surprised that more have not tried something but I guess most either respect or fear him too much to betray him.
"Kitsune," Kyuubi says demanding my attention.
I turn to face him and move towards him when one of his tails motion for me to approach him. With one swift movement, Kyuubi uses his left paw's claws to slice through a major artery in Katsuro's throat. Katsuro tries to gasp but all that comes out of his mouth is a gurgling sound. Slowly the light in his eyes fades away and I can tell that Katsuro is dead.
"Kill them all," Kyuubi commands me motioning towards the eleven others who betrayed him.
I turn on my back left paw and launch myself at the last of the traitors. Killing them all in less than a minute, I start with the one who is the most traitorous other than Katsuro and move on down in traitor levels. A few try running away but I catch them with my tails and snap their necks killing them right then and there. Most just stood there and took their deaths with dignity knowing they should have stayed loyal to their lord.
"Starting tomorrow we shall get to work on fixing this place and the lands up. Keep on guard for anyone trying to get in," Kyuubi commands the few remaining guards.
Kyuubi stalks swiftly off into the castle's insides. I follow him as soon as I realize that he is already gone from the court yard we had arrived in. I chase after him quickly trying to catch up and slow down to his pace as soon as I come within ten feet of him. Kyuubi walks me down these even more desolate than the land, halls. The halls are black with grime from little to no care. Somehow even the stone that makes up the castle has missed its master in his long time gone from this place. It feels weird to feel the stone calling out to be touched by its master but it is ignored.
A door leading into what appears to be an office opens as Kyuubi comes to a stop in front of it.
What the hell was that, I ask myself?
Kyuubi walks inside, and I follow uneasily and nearly jump out of my skin as the door shuts behind me. I look behind me for a second and turn to see that Kyuubi is already sitting behind the desk on a set of cushions. I move closer to the desk and come to a stop in front of him. A smirk is on his face, and I can tell he is glad to have already snuffled out the traitors in his castle.
"Kitsune, you will wear these bell earrings at all times. They signify that you are my servant and mine alone," growls out Kyuubi looking at me.
That is the only warning he gives me before pushing the bells earring through the tips of my ears. I hold back a cry of pain from him doing that to me. It hurts like hell having something forced through your ear without something sharp to help make the tearing of the skin easier. Kyuubi is staring at me with amusement in his eyes. I so badly want to cuss him out but to do so would break the rule set out for me.
"I forget how painful that can be but whatever. You will command the workers of the castle in the cleaning and bettering of this castle. Much of the castle's beauty has been taken away and I want it to be back to something beautiful within the next year am I understood, Kitsune," he demands in a very agitated tone.
"Yes," I reply with a bow of my head.
"You will always address me as master," Kyuubi growls once again.
"Yes, master," I respond bow my head once again as I feel blood sliding down the back of my ears and onto my white fur which is slightly stained with blood from earlier.
"Good, you will also be going out to make sure that my wishes are met out in the land and delivering my messages to the fox lords. I am the king of foxes and it is time that I reassert my dominance on my people once again," Kyuubi says with a dark chuckle.
A servant walks into the room and bows the whole front of their body. The servant is almost tan in color and has four tails. I can see that the fox is a female and very old and loyal to her lord from what I read of her mind.
"Kyuubi-sama, is there anything you wish of me," she asks him in a polite tone.
"Ah, yes obaa-chan. I would like for you to take kitsune here to a bath and then to the room across from mine," he orders in an agreeable tone.
Wow this is the most civil I have seen him. Did he call her obaa-chan? Is she really his obaa-chan or does he call her that because of her age, I ask myself trying to figure him out.
"Yes sir," the lady says with a smaller bow than before.
"Oh and Kitsune remember not to run off. You may speak with others but not in my presence is that clear," he demands in a grinding tone from which I can tell he is getting aggravated with something.
"As you wish, master," I answer with a bow before turning to follow Obaa-chan from the room.
Well this is all for now. I hope you all liked it. Please review, I would like to know what you all think. Also should I have him continue to call her Kitsune or Byakko which means white fox or make her gain his respect some to where he calls her Byakko. I leave it up to you all. Until next time bye.