Author Note

Well, here's the second chapter.

Again it will be relatively short but I hope it will be meaningful and enjoyable to read.

I did re-watch Teen Wolf like a few times to have a good idea of where I wanted to start and how I wanted the story to flow.

Also, allow me to apologise for not giving a general time period of where this story is based. This is based in Season 5 part two, after Lydia's rescue but before the lacrosse game where Kira goes full on kitsune mode.

With that dear reader, enjoy.

Jiang-sama

A Different Choice

~o~

Chapter Two

"When you said we were travelling, I thought you meant we'd be going to the skin-walkers" Kira stated, as they boarded their flight, "not aboard a jet going who knows where"

"We were," Noshiko replied, "but it has come to my attention that we must set a different course if you are to get actual help and not shortcuts"

To say Kira was surprised would be an understatement. She has made a resolve to spend years with the skin-walkers if it meant getting the fox within her under control. This realisation couldn't be more glaringly obvious with how useless she felt in the aftermath of Lydia's rescue from Eichen House with how hard it was to take enough power to cause the brown out and yet having too much to stay in control. The fact that they were on a telluric current didn't really help much either. For all she knew, the fox would take control and do more harm than good.

All that led to the final conclusion that it was the skin-walkers and no one else. Meaning no life, no school or college, no friends, and no Scott. However, against all odds, her mother came through with another solution.

"You mean dad said we should go on a different course which different course apparently involves boarding a jet going where? And by the way, how did we afford a jet?" Kira fired.

"You're father may have said a thing or two about how we should best help you," Noshiko replied, "In any case the skin-walkers, while wise, may not be the right choice for you to get help from. As for the jet, I called in a favour"

"A favour from who?"

"That's not important"

"Mom!"

"Its not one with any negative repercussions or one you should concern yourself about," Noshiko answered, "But if you must know, I called in a favour from an old friend, a tengu if you will"

"That doesn't explain anything!" Kira exclaimed, "Plus tengu really? Red skinned people with crow feathered wings don't exist"

"Kira, you are a kitsune. Who's to say tengu don't exist?"

Noshiko smirked in reply and as Kira was rendered speechless, clearly stumped with the new information. She relaxed into her seat as the jet took off into the skies marking the start of the journey.

An hour into the flight, Kira asked, "So where are we going?"

"To my home"

"Home as in Japan"

"Yes"

"And we're going to find help there?"

"Hopefully"

Kira sighed and pulled out her book on Japanese mythology, and began turning the pages.

"Is that what where you have been getting your information about kitsune?" Noshiko asked, noticing the book.

"Well, yeah," Kira answered, "Its been my go to since I discovered my powers"

"Why have you never asked me?"

Shifting in her seat uncomfortably, looking at anything apart from her mother's eyes.

"I see," Noshiko whispered, "I don't suppose I've made it easy"

Met with silence from her daughter, Noshiko posed a question, "What have you learned about kitsune? Not just from your readings, but from your experiences as well?"

"Well," Kira began nervously, "I know we're supernatural creatures likes werewolves although we have aura. We wield the katana in a fight. And there are different types like wild, thunder and celestial kitsune. I recently learned that kitsune spirit can't read well. We can get tails but only up to nine. Also we can apparently live up to nine-hundred years. Kitsune are not really affected by the full moon like foxes are. There's the fact that we can be tricksters. Ummmm..."

"That's enough," Noshiko said, stopping Kira, "You're experiences have given you valuable information about kitsune, but I see there's more you have to learn. Yes we are supernatural creatures, but we are a different from the supernatural that you have encountered"

"What do you mean?" Kira asked curiously.

"Kitsune are not like werewolves who's origins start from old folklore of the common bite from a wolf or a curse as some stories go. In fact, while kitsune in their truest form are indeed shapeshifters they are not human. In fact the origins kitsune having nothing to do with humans at all"

"Pause," Kira interrupted, "I'm lost right now. I mean I know we're not completely human but does that mean we're not human at all?"

"We are human," Noshiko stated, "and we are also kitsune"

Kira opened her mouth but Noshiko cut her with a look and Kira immediately closed her mouth.

"As I was saying, a true kitsune has nothing to do with being human; their true nature is something to do with being a beast and a spirit. Kitsune are foxes that live a hundred years, and go through evolution of sorts. I suppose the term would be enlightenment from a natural creature to a supernatural one that comes with supernatural abilities that grow as they age. The most common or most noticeable ability is that to shapeshift into humans. Old wives tales will have you believe that the purpose of shapeshifting, was to attract unsuspecting humans and eat their livers to increase their spiritual power"

Kira gasped at this point, going very pale.

"...but I won't bore you with that considering its true for some but not for others. It goes without saying that evolved kitsune had more abilities than that. Like the ability to control the tides and the weather, ability to possess humans, control over plants, invisibility, and so forth. Powers aside, kitsune were known to be servants to deities, or one particular one called Inari. Again I won't bore you with the details of it. But what you should know is that the older the kitsune gets, the more powerful it becomes. An interesting fact is that while they have tethers to the natural plain given they were born creatures of nature, they are largely part of the supernatural. After all, they are considered as yokai, supernatural beings that are home to Japan"

"Okay, I get that," Kira said, "but how does that relate to how a person can become a kitsune as a human shapeshifter?"

"A person can only be a kitsune-shapeshifter if they are born from a union between a human and true kitsune," Noshiko replied, "Half-human, half-kitsune. Then, every kitsune born after that is what we now know and recognise as a shapeshifter akin to werewolves. And identifying as a kitsune is only by birth. There is no bite from an alpha or an alpha spark amongst kitsune. There are no ranks of power like alpha, beta or omega either"

"So does that mean you're a true..."

"No, but I was born to a true kitsune and a human priest" sighed Noshiko, "and with that we'll end our lesson here for today.

"But there's still more I have to know," Kira protested.

"I'm sure you can supplement what I've said with a little more reading. But for now you must take this time to meditate and rest. Once we land, we'll be busy and there's no telling if we'll have a chance to rest"

Japan

True to her word, it was a flurry of movement when the mother-daughter duo landed. So much so Kira had no time to take in that this was her first trip to Japan and didn't really have the opportunity to take in the new environment. Upon arrival in Japan, Noshiko had the duo take a private cab to the nearest train station and board a bullet train to Kyoto. The older kitsune booked a private cabin for the duo.

"I want you to be on high alert Kira. If there's anything you sense at all about yourself or your surroundings, let me know immediately," Noshiko warned.

"Are we in danger?" Kira asked nervously.

"No," Noshiko replied, "At least not yet. While this is technically home, it hasn't been home for a long time. I haven't really stayed in touch with the supernatural or my family for that matter"

"Why?"

"Life, Kira," Noshiko answered bitterly, "Circumstances and choices lead you to paths you either want or not. Mine led me to where I am today"

Kira was silent for a moment before asking, "May you please tell me about your family? Are they still around"

"I'm not certain yet if I still have any, Kira"

"Then, can you tell me about them?"

"Its no happy tale"

"I would still like to know about them. They're my family too aren't they?"

Noshiko remained silent and gazed out the window as the world outside zoomed by. She hadn't told ken much about her family beyond the simple excuse that she doubted they still lived. But that didn't mean Kira didn't have to know hers. After all Noshiko was at the end of her estimated life span, and Ken would live out his days as a mortal human. Kira would need familial ties in the event they would cease to exist in the world. Decisions, decisions.

"I haven't told you much of my life have I?" Noshiko stated, eyes still on the window.

"Except Oak Creek and the nogitsune, not really"

"Hmm," Noshiko hummed, "I was born on a mountain around the 12th Century in what is now known as the Heian period. My father was a human shinto priest. My mother, a kitsune was a true kitsune, a pureblood kitsune as she liked to be called"

"Was?" Kira said, "Is she dead?"

"That I'm not sure, although its highly doubtful" Noshiko replied, then said thoughtfully, "But I'm surprised your curiosity is on her being alive rather than her status as a pureblood kitsune"

"About that, doesn't that just mean she's a fox that gained powers?"

"Yes, but there's more to the history of kitsune I told you about earlier. There's my story. Pureblood kitsune born on these lands are foxes that live a hundred years and ascend to part animal and part spiritual being with intelligence and knowledge of self. As they continue to live and on in the years they gain power and abilities beyond their natural forms. In the time I was born, a pureblood kitsune is such a fox, in this case you're grandmother. I'm a half-blood because I'm also human and amongst yokai, it was something of a death sentence. Well, unless you were a certain annoyingly talented sorcerer"

"Okay," Kira said awkwardly.

"Anyways, I wasn't born human, but a fox. I was raised by my father, who loved and cared for me so deeply despite my more animal traits and status. I wasn't able to shift , let alone speak with until I was about fifty years old when I gained the ability to shift because I had a strong desire to converse with him and share my thoughts. I was able to communicate with my father when I shifted into my human form, but by then he was old and dying. The last few days of his life were sad but peaceful, with memories I will treasure for the rest of my life. After his death, I stayed on the mountain, still at the temple, for a few more decades and living like a fox when my mother came around"

"What was grandma like?"

"A little too spirited and one who lived life as she pleased. She came to my father's grave where she found me and recognised me as her kin, then took me away to Kyoto and raised me thereafter. My life with her was a harsh and hellish learning experience, especially that I was surrounded by her other children and at the centre of yokai activity when it was at its peak.

"It took longer for me to manifest my abilities. In fact, I was no better than an ordinary in a forest. My mother was powerful and well known amongst yokai circles and communities. Her pureblood children too and her most famous half-blood son. I believe I slowly started gaining abilities and power after I turned 240 thereabout. But even then, it was mostly strength, invisibility and the ability to create fox fire. It should have been enough to gain respect, but that was never the case"

"Can you still turn into a fox? Can I?"

"I can't. I'm not sure if you can but time will tell"

"Why have you never shared your story with me or dad?"

"I don't exactly treasure my life here with what I've been through taking into account my family and life experiences. Its something I would rather forget and never have to look back upon," Noshiko sighed, "Then again, I could have been wrong because I shouldn't have had to deny you knowing our history despite my reservations"

They remained quiet for the rest of the journey, both having thoughts weigh down their minds.

Once they arrived in Kyoto, Noshiko booked the duo into hotel for them to rest and freshen up as it was mid-morning. Later on in the evening, after some much needed dinner, both mother and daughter prepared to go out. Noshiko dressed in a white long sleeved shirt, with black jeans hiking boots and her trusty leather coat. Kira on the other hand had on her black tank top with a black and white woollen pinstripe sweater on and black jeans tied with combat boots along with her trusty belt katana.

The duo were on a bus where they stopped at a station point where they would continue on to Kyoto's Inari Shrine that sat atop a hill amidst a forest. As they began to ascend the steps toward the shrine, Kira finally asked, "So um, I know my knowledge on Japanese culture and supernatural is a bit lacking, but since grandpa was a priest, were you a priestess at some point?"

"At some point yes," Noshiko answered, "it made me feel closer to my father"

"I see," Kira nodded, then she felt a shiver run down her spine and looked around, "How long before we get to the temple?"

"A little more"

"Okay because there's something weird about this place and keep getting shivers"

"Then it seems our destination is close"

"But isn't the temple still far up?"

"The temple was never the destination," Noshiko answered, and just as she had done so, whisps of blue flames appeared in front of them and lead to their right.

"Mom" Kira called out nervously.

However, Noshiko remained calm and said, "Let's go"

They followed the trail of fiery whisps as it lead them through a cluster of trees until they reached a stone path. A the beginning of the path, were two fox statues that stood guard on either side. Noshiko stopped and bowed, prompting Kira to do the same. Noshiko then marched forward with Kira trailing nervously behind her. The stone path lead to a semi-opening, with fox statues all around staring down at the duo. A hazy mist settled in with a clear voice calling out,

"Well, if it isn't my idiot of daughter who has finally returned home"

Author Note

So, for this chapter, I took some inspiration from an anime called Nurarihyon no Mago or Nurarihyon's grandson. Its a really cool anime about a kid who's a quarter yokai becoming the heir of his grandfather's yokai clan type of situation. Season one is about his identity as a quarter yokai and season two deals with kitsune.

I won't say more beyond that but try watching the anime, maybe read the manga too, as something to enjoy or to get a better feel about yokai and about what I do in this story.

I must emphasise that this is not and will not be a cross-over. I'm merely drawing inspiration to give Noshiko a back story that makes sense for a freaking 900 year old kitsune beyond the Oak Creek-Nogitsune arc we got on Teen Wolf.

But so the record's set straight here, this chapter is a mix of Teen Wolf lore, information from Wikipedia, a little from Tale of the Nine Tailed Fox if you squint a bit, Nurarihyon no mago fandom, and a touch of my imagination XD.

So that it for this chapter. See you on the next chapter.