Kitsunekodomo

The birds stopped their idle chatter and took flight; the woodland creatures fled. But the mindless entity did not care, they were of no concern to it, only revenge was. Dear, sweet revenge for the death of its comrade.

"Suzaku seishi…Chichiri," it growled.

He would not live for very long.

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Chichiri sneezed. Tauski must be telling stories about him again. Sometimes he just wondered about the red-haired bandit.

But it had been good to see him again. Chichiri had discovered he had wandered back near Mt. Leikaku, so he had journeyed to the mountain stronghold to visit his former companion. Chichiri sighed, some people never changed.

A rustling bush by the roadside – the first of many in the bordering forest – drew the monk seishi’s attention. Already brought out of his train of thought, Chichiri decided to investigate. If only he had remembered that old expression, ‘curiosity killed the kitsune.’

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She took three quick sniffs then exhaled. The one she sought was nearby. But she didn’t like that other scent.

The scent that was neither human nor animal.

She ran.

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Chichiri shook his head and groaned silently. How could this have happened? It just didn’t seem natural.

A few feet away from the seishi stood a wolf. A snarling, snapping wolf with telltale foam dripping out of its mouth.

It crouched in preparation to spring and Chichiri, dazed, couldn’t gather enough wits to perform a defensive spell. To make matters worse, his staff was behind the wolf, out of his reach.

Fortunately, it seemed Suzaku was a bit possessive about his remaining seishi as a blur erupted from a nearby bush and collided with Chichiri’s attacker. Ironically, it was the same bush that Chichiri had been investigating before the wolf had ambushed him from behind.

Chichiri shook his head – then instantly regretted it as a sharp pain rose from the base of his skull. Taking a few minutes, he finally managed to rise to his feet. He looked behind him at the large crack in the tree he had created on impact – he might have been dead now if it wasn’t for the fact he was a seishi. However, he doubted if the crack in the tree would ever heal.

Taking a few confident steps – and then bolder ones as his confidence rose – he managed, with only minor difficulty, to reach the spot where his staff had fallen.

Gingerly bending down – and pausing to wince as a twinge of pain worked its way down his spine –he clasped the staff with his right hand, taking a moment to feel the emotional relief that cam when his fingers had first brushed the smooth, cold metal. Straightening, and making a small thirty-degree turn, Chichiri watched the fight.

His defender wasn’t human. Instead, it was an adult fox –

Kitsune, he corrected himself, as he noticed the twin tails and abnormal size. She herself was twice the size of a normal fox and a medium brown, the color helping her blend in with the forest. Her tails were of the same color – also possessing black tips – and were intertwined together to look like one.

She was facing away from him, snarling at the wolf –a dark gray color, to help blend in with the shadows – as they started circling each other.

With a maddened, enraged snarl the wolf blindly pounced. Reacting quickly, the kitsune sidestepped, but as a result, she stumbled over a previously unnoticed tree root.

With a feral grin the wolf jumped again – this time with deadly accuracy. Out of desperation the kitsune kicked out with her back paws.

She was rewarded with a yelp, then a snap upon connection with the wolf’s jaw. However, a price came with the maneuver.

The wolf moved in with a speed of desperate fury, scoring several good hits on the shoulders, front legs, and one in particular on the neck – awfully close to the throat.

Too close.

‘Oneechan, help!’ The mental plea, materializing out of nowhere, startled Chichiri. "Asha?"

There was no answering reply, but the first message was clear – she needed help. Raising his staff, Chichiri concentrated.

The kitsune snarled in frustration – this was no ordinary mad wolf.

She winced as she gingerly tested her left back leg. It wasn’t broken, but it obviously wasn’t going to support her weight. And to make matters worse, she was trapped.

Trapped against a tree by a mad wolf.

And then it happened. A large column of flame burst in from the left side of her vision, and engulfed the wolf.

It didn’t even have time to unleash its deathcry before it was turned to ash. Chichiri slumped in relief.

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It snorted. Its messenger hadn’t been able to do its job, and now the seishi would be on alert.

That fox might prove a problem. Her devotion to the seishi could make her a formidable opponent.

But it would avenge the comrade! It must!

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"Don’t touch it! That wolf was afflicted with the Demon’s Touch, no da!" The kitsune gave Chichiri a sullen look.

She had been about to clean her wounds when Chichiri had interrupted her by shouting. But he had a point, licking her wounds would only result in her going slowly mad. She let out a ‘whuff’ of annoyance. What she needed was a spring!

She stood up, only to sink back down again with a wince of pain. She wouldn’t be getting up anytime soon.

"Here, let me help." Bending down, Chichiri picked her up – finding her surprisingly light and, despite protests, carried her to a river he had passed not too long ago.

Soon, the kitsune let loose a defeated sigh and ceased her struggling, giving up to the inevitable.

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Taiitsukun chuckled as she watched the unlikely pair. And to make matters better, she was able to enjoy a gift Miaka had given her on her last visit.

What a strange but wonderful salty snack this popcorn was. And it certainly fit the occasion.

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"Here, let me clean the dust out of that wound." A warning snap of the kitsune’s jaws sent Chichiri sprawling back, clearly surprised.

Unfortunately for him, the only thing behind him was the river. The kitsune’s chuckle was nearly drowned out by the resounding splash, but it was obvious that the accident had put her in a better mood.

Rising slowly – with a wince of pain once she put her weight on her injured leg – the kitsune descended into the water. And she began to glow. Chichiri could only stare in amazement. After all the things he’d seen – and even done – something as simple as this still amazed him.

The kitsune stopped glowing nearly as quickly as she begun. Slowly, she made her way to the bank and started shaking her paws, one by one to dry herself off. ‘My birth is in water, my death was in water, and water is my life.’ She explained, never turning around to address her audience. She shook her whole body then, trying to rid the rest of her fur of water.

The ultimate consequence being five minutes of embarrassment while waiting for her fur to smooth down.

Meanwhile, Chichiri had finally exited the water and started a fire. The kitsune mouth quirked in a slightly amused grin, there was one advantage to having fur over clothes. But...she felt like she could trust this man.

Trotting over, she offered Chichiri her right paw in the human gesture of a handshake. ‘Atsumi.’

"Houjin," he replied, not fully realizing why he had given her his birth name instead of his seishi one. But then again, his life as a seishi was done, and he needed to start over. And – without further ado – they shook.

And that’s when all of Hell broke loose.

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There he was!! The maddened wolf howled to her tribe. Death for the seishi!! Vengeance for our comrade!!

And the whole pack exploded from the bush, only one thing on their minds. Kill.

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She never noticed – or didn’t care – as her younger, shorter companion shot an angry look. The stranger didn’t like the unconcerned way Taiitsukun was handling the predicament with.

Taiitsukun also failed to notice the worried look in her companion’s eyes as she continued to watch the fight unfold.

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Chichiri tried not to notice the trickle of blood that teased his skin as it slowly ran down his temple. Things were not going well.

Only the fact that the two companions had managed to keep their backs to the river had allowed them to stay alive this long.

And then – suddenly, for some unknown reason – the wolves broke off and fled into the woods. Chichiri sighed and sank into the ground. "We seem to be safe," he sighed, searching for his mask.

After a minute or so he finally noticed it – shredded – by Atsumi’s side. Atsumi, who – strangely – had her back to him. Her back was also tense, as if she were fighting something.

"Atsumi-san?" He asked, taking one step forward.

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The wolf cackled, delirious with glee. The kitsune would finish the job for them.

She trotted to the edge of the clearing, wanting a full view of the oncoming battle.

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"Atsumi-san?" Chichiri took a second step. And then another...and another. A miniature voice inside his was screaming at him to run away, but he ignored it. After all, Atsumi had helped him twice in a day without ever stating a reason.

A low snarl brought his full attention back on the kitsune. "Atsumi-san?"

Another snarl came as Atsumi suddenly whirled and lunged – claws extended and teeth bared – aiming for the killing stroke.

Surprised, Chichiri desperately raised his staff to block. However, the sudden collision with a moving, heavy object caused him to tumble backward.

Straight into the river.

The sudden shock of the cold water slowed down his responses as he desperately scrambled to his feet – trying to regain his wits even as he awaited the next blow.

It never came.

Chichiri – surprised – tried to locate the mad kitsune and found her. Something obviously happened. Her amber eyes glowed with a reddish shade of her former eye color.

And she seemed afraid of the water. She was prowling along the riverbank, never ceasing in her delirious snarling.

A sudden idea came to him, and – picking up a handful of water – threw it at Atsumi before all of it could slip through his fingers.

She leapt back as her snarl increased in volume. And – remembering her earlier words – a theory came upon Chichiri.

Slowly, deliberately, Chichiri stepped onto the edge of the shore.

Grinning in wolfish glee, Atsumi sprang on Chichiri once more. However, before she could connect, he grabbed her front paws.

And he leaned back.

The resulting splash resounded clearly throughout the clearing before it was overtaken by Atsumi’s heart-wrenching shriek.

She thrashed wildly as if in pain. However, her thrashing only caused her to get even more wet, and thus she thrashed harder in a viscous, ever continuing cycle.

Then all was suddenly still. The thrashing and splashing stopped to reveal Atsumi floating gently in the water.

She was absolutely still – too still for Chichiri’s liking – and he slowly, cautiously stepped toward the unconscious kitsune.

And then – with Chichiri only a half foot away – Atsumi opened her eyes.

And snarled.

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The wolf couldn’t wait anymore. The seishi needed to die!! Damn that kitsune for taking too long – She would do it herself!

Her snarl increasing in volume, she leapt out of the brush.

Bounding – once, twice, three times – she sprang from the shore headed right for Chichiri’s throat.

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Chichiri sighed in despair – he couldn’t save her.

But Atsumi wasn’t focused on him, and –as she wobbled drunkenly to her feet – Chichiri realized she was snarling at something else.

Atsumi shook her head in an attempt to clear it. ‘Houjin-san, look out!!!’

However, even as she screamed out her warning and rushed in a desperate attempt to save him...

She knew it was too late.

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Five feet, four feet, three

The wolf grinned crazily; she would finally have her revenge.

Two feet, one...

And then a voice. A voice she hated as much as the damned seishi Chichiri.

"Rekka Shiiiiiiien!!!"

It was hot. Terribly hot. The fire scorched her flesh. Leaving her with only blistered skin.

And soon even that was denied her.

After many years of plotting and searching for him, with a cry of rage she was no more. She didn’t even have dust to scatter upon the wind.

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Atsumi blinked in confusion at the wave of flame. Where had it come from?

Her question was soon answered as Tasuki strode out of the forest, a confident smile on his face.

"So what now, Chichiri? You takin’ Bakahome’s job? He’s the one supposed to be hit, not you." Chichiri simply gave Tasuki a look as he lifted himself out of the river –for a third time too! – and he was a bit crispier than before his untimely ‘rescue’.

A sudden snarl caught Chichiri’s attention just in time to let him step out of the way.

With an undignified yelp of surprise Tauski went tumbling forward, and the snarling wolf went over his head. The wolf – a bit sullen that he had missed his target – gave them a sour look before trotting off.

Atsumi watched him walk off before turning to eachother and shrugging in unison.

It was then that they noticed the frantic splashing.

"Who the hell pushed me in here?! Dammit, was it you, Chichiri?! You know I can’t fuckin’ swim!! Get me the hell outta hear!" Atsumi sweatdropped as Chichiri sighed.

"Even if it saved his life...maybe next time you shouldn’t hit poor Tasuki-kun into the water." He chuckled. "Oi, Tasuki-kun, the water is only hip deep no da!"

The splashing and cursing stopped abruptly as Tasuki stood, his face as read as his hair.

A chuckle from behind Chichiri caused Tasuki to go SD and yell.

"Ahhh!! Sunakake baba!" Taiitsukun glared as she pulled out her mallet and started smiling viciously at Tasuki.

Atsumi watched vividly, the words ‘Edited for violence’ coming to mind. Soon Tasuki – still SD – fell to the ground unconscious – a large, telltale bump on his head.

Chichiri sighed again. "He never learns, no da." Taiitsukun resumed her cackling.

"That fight was entertaining, Chichiri! Very entertaining!"" If he had been a normal man, Chichiri would have gawked in disbelief at her concepts of ‘entertainment’. As it was, he barley batted an eye, used to Taiitsukun’s queer statements...and odd tastes.

"You know, Chichiri," She commented, mischief lighting up her eyes, "you might want to find a safe place to sleep – there’s only a few hours left until daylight. Here, I’ll help."

Cackling gleefully, Taiitsukun raised her fingers and teleported the three of them...somewhere. The woman behind her sighed.

"You never change, Taiitsukun-san." Taiitsukun let out a loud ‘harmph’; not even she could hit a spirit.

"You’re one to talk, Asha. After all, wasn’t it you who exchanged her chance at reincarnation to let her ‘brother’s’ fiancée live?" Asha smiled.

"Maybe so. But at least I don’t go around hurting people." Asha looked around the battlefield with a little frown. "It’s a tragedy that they had to meet again this way. I was expecting something a little less...bloody." Asha tilted her head to the side.

"But why did Ashitare-san’s tribe attack Onii-chan? I thought it was Nuriko-san that killed him."

"And so he did. But the alpha female went slowly mad, and so plotted against Chichiri for some odd reason. It didn’t help matters that Nuriko was already dead." Asha nodded her head and grinned.

"You surprise me, Taiitsukun-san. I always thought of you as nothing more than a violent nutcase, and then you actually say something smart." Taiitsukun growled low under her breath.

Asha frowned again. "Ano...Taiitsukun-san? Where did you send Onii-chan?" Taiitsukun underwent a rapid change of emotions and grinned wickedly.

And there was a twinkle in her eyes that put Asha on edge......

"I just decided that Chichiri needed...a vacation." The floating spirit-form of Asha sweatdropped.

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He could taste the salt on the breeze and the sun beating down on his unprotected back. He blinked in confusion as he noticed the different styles of trees.

Trees much different than what he was used too. The trees had few – if no – branches, their leaves were much bigger, and said leaves had a glossy look to them. The color of the water was a bit off too...

Where were they?

A sudden grumbling from behind him alerted Chichiri to Tasuki’s presence. "Where the hell are we?!"

Chichiri could only back away a bit nervously, as Tasuki’s face became darker every second.

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"SUNAKAKE BABA!!!"

Or maybe not...

Author’s Notes –

Surprise ending!! *Chuckles* Even I didn’t think of it ending this way when I first started writing this trilogy.

Then again, I didn’t even think I would write a trilogy when I finished writing ‘Sainokodomo’. But the Nyan Nyan sort of grew on me... >.<

*A crash (and explosion) is heard as Asha tumbles in*

Asha: Sorry Shinnite-san! I kind of blew up dinner!

*Another explosion*

Asha: *Sweatdrop* And your kitchen as well. *Hyper grin*

So when are you going to write the follow-up series?

*Another crash is heard*

Asha: Shinnite-san? Moshi Moshi? Oh well! I guess she doesn’t have to eat if she’s unconscious! So, to anyone reading this, just lookout for a follow-up story! *Pauses* Well, just as soon as I get her to write one! She’s been trying to get out of it for weeks!

Asha: Oh, and you can enter your usual disclaimers here! *giggles* This is fun! Maybe I should start writing too...

*A muffled comment from upstairs is heard*

Asha: *Bouncing (yes, bouncing!) upstairs* Fluffy-san! That wasn’t very nice...