The stomps of enraged geta continued to crush the grass underneath the tall, orange kitsune.

As she continued to destroy the greenery that stood below her, a snake woman colored in purple appeared before her.

Silvia: [Where are you going, Kōkatssssu?]

With their backs turned to each other, the snake provided a comment to the fox.

Kōkatsu: [Where the hell do ya think I’m goin’?! Do ya really need an answer for that?!]

Silvia: [I believe you are making a rather recklessss choice.]

Kōkatsu: [I don’t give a shit what type of choice I’m makin’! What I do is what I do! Lay off me, will ya?!]

Finally, the kitsune turned in anger towards the snake woman. As she did so, the snake woman turned to face her in opposition.

Silvia: [You sssshould know what we musssst do.]

Kōkatsu: [And what exactly is THAT supposed to mean?!]

Intimidating glares were exchanged between the two.

Silvia: [There issss only one option for ussss.]

Gripping the swords by her waist, the kitsune provided her chilling response.

Kōkatsu: [Go ahead and say it. If I don’t like it, I might just beat ya to a pulp.]

Much like the kitsune before her, the snake woman proceeded to grip at the hilt of her very own blade.

Silvia: [If you do not align with thissss option, I will be forssssed to do the ssssame.]

The heated conversation between the two women continued to transpire, the two being the only people within the world to hear the words exchanged.

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At an incredible speed, the woman continued to fly across the air without a moment of hesitation. There were many things that clouded her mind, causing different concerns for every possible reason. However, there was one thought that had taken a much larger priority than anything else. Focusing on this task, she allowed her wings to attack the air around her as effectively as she could.

However, there were far too many eyes on her since the arrest charge was sent out. Her path was already predicted by those who wished to catch her, and thus, upon arriving near a city, she was forced to travel on foot. Sneaking through the alleyways, and hiding from searchlights, she did not stop her pace towards her objective.

Shiro: [None of this makes sense, but that’s not what I need to worry about right now.]

Peaking ever so slightly past the walls she had hid behind, Shiro observed her surroundings.

Shiro: [Seems like all of the gods have made it here with their forces. Damn it! This situation is only getting worse for me with every passing second!]

The routes she could take were rather limited given the scenario.

Fences would cause far too much noise to climb over, and would alert those around the area. Climbing atop buildings or even jumping across the roofs of them would likely lead to Shiro being spotted. Even the attempt of hiding in trash or crates would lead to a similar problem as the fences.

Further and further, Shiro’s situation only grew more dreadful as her options were taken from her.

Running down another alleyway, Shiro quickly put her back to a brick wall with fear in her heart. This was only natural, as she noticed a harpy slowly moving across the air.

Shiro: [Shit!...Vogel being here is only going to make things worse!]

She watched as a fellow goddess, Vogel, passed the building Shiro had been attached to. With her back turned to Shiro, Vogel turned her head by a small degree, with a smile escaping her lips. She then turned to a different direction and continued to monitor the area.

Her expression however confused Shiro to the fullest.

Shiro: [Did….Did she see me?...No….There’s no way…Otherwise, she would report that she did…But that almost made it seem like…What am I even doing?! I have no time to think about this stuff! Whether she did or not isn’t important anymore!]

Once again, Shiro made a mad dash towards another alleyway, turning through the almost maze-like structure of the buildings around her to reach her destination.

She began to worry over the noise that her heels had started to create, but much like Vogel’s expression, this was no longer important.

There was fear in being spotted, but there was far more fear in the loss of what she was focused on.

No longer did these things matter.

The idea of climbing fences.

The idea of scaling buildings.

The idea of jumping across roofs.

All was now a possible playing card for her escape.

What mattered now was her mission to secure what mattered to her most.

Turning through another alley, Shiro continued to run–

Shiro: [Hk!]

Releasing a pained noise from her mouth, Shiro’s sprint came to a stop as she watched two kitsune run into the same alley as her.

Two kitsune…who she was familiar with.

Kaoru: [At last…we’ve found you.]

Stolen novel; please report.

Kiyomi: [You sure know how to run, Miss Shiro. Too bad it ain’t happening any longer.]

Shiro’s face began to wrinkle with hesitation as she attempted to slowly move back.

Kaoru: [Kiyomi, I believe you know what comes next.]

Kiyomi: [Yeah, course I do. Gotta make sure to use all my muscles for something like this.]

It was clear what their objective was.

Though she had known what they planned to do, Shiro hesitated to take any further action.

Shiro: [I don’t want to hurt either of you, and to be honest, I’m not going to.]

Kiyomi: [That’s real kind of you, Miss Shiro.]

Kaoru: [However, the situation at hand calls for our assistance.]

Though they were now enemies.

Though they were now kitsune who would assist in arresting Shiro over the fabricated broadcast.

To her, they were still Kōkatsu’s children.

Not just that, they were also children Shiro had known for the past ten years of her life.

The kind hearted first daughter of Kōkatsu, Kaoru Teppen.

The incredibly strong second daughter, Kiyomi.

Two kitsune who had both helped, and were helped by Shiro herself.

No matter if they were friends or enemies, Shiro would not lay a single finger upon these children.

Both for her own sake, Kōkatsu’s, and the sake of those very same children after all they had done for her.

Kaoru: [Kiyomi.]

Kiyomi: [Yeah. Let’s get this thing started.]

She watched as Kiyomi moved over to the other end of the alleyway, the two keeping their focus set on Shiro.

An attack from both sides was likely the result that would soon come into play.

She continued to gaze at Kiyomi, who moved towards–

Shiro: [Huh?]

Kiyomi averted her attention from Shiro, and instead focused on a large crate that stood beside her. Picking up the crate as quietly as possible, she used every ounce of her strength to lift it off the ground and move it to the side. From there, a manhole appeared directly underneath where this crate had been. Kneeling down to reach this manhole, she once again quietly picked it up and moved to the side.

Finally, her attention returned back to Shiro, with a hand now being directed towards the hole.

Kiyomi: [This way, Miss Shiro.]

Shiro: [You two…]

A smile was presented on the faces of the kitsune.

Kaoru: [Thanks to one of our siblings, we were able to make it here as quickly as we could.]

Much like their own faces, a mutual smile began to sprout across Shiro’s own.

Shiro: [What if you two get spotted helping me like this? Wouldn’t that only cause a problem for the both of you and Kōkatsu?]

Kiyomi: [You don’t need to worry, Miss Shiro. Lady Kōkatsu isn’t the only one helping us.]

Shiro: [She isn’t?!]

Kaoru: [We don’t exactly have many allies, however, other than the Kōkatsu family, we have another goddess assisting us! She and her forces are making sure that the others are headed towards incorrect alleyways.]

Kiyomi: [I just kinda wish she didn’t threaten Lady Kōkatsu…]

Their words were vague, but Shiro was able to decipher just who the other goddess had been.

At the complete realization within her mind, a delightfully warm feeling flowed through her body.

Shiro: [I’ll have to thank Sil when I get the chance to.]

Kiyomi: [Alright, we’ve got no time to waste! Please hurry, Miss Shiro!]

Shiro: [Right! Thank you both for the help! I’ll make sure to tell Kōkatsu how fantastic you were!]

Kiyomi: [Please don’t. I’m gonna have to endure cheek pinch hell if you do.]

Kaoru: [...I wouldn’t mind that…Ah! Well, good luck, Miss Shiro!]

Shiro nodded her head as she moved down the ladder presented past the hole in front of her. As she reached the bottom, Kiyomi quickly took the removed cover and placed it back onto the top. She then picked up the same crate as before, and put it over the manhole.

Kiyomi: [And now…]

Kaoru: [...Lady Kōkatsu shall give her the plan!]

The two smiled in satisfaction at each other, before moving out of the alleyway, continuing their “search”.

A brand new method of travel was now safely provided to Shiro via two of her closest friends, and those who stood behind them.

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Running across the underground sewers, Shiro continued to race towards her goal.

With a new route provided thanks to Kōkatsu, the path to such a place was a much more safe, and quick option to do so.

Without a care in the world over the noise her heels created, she charged towards her destination…only to be stopped by an outstretched sword.

For a moment, she remained cautious of the owner. However, that caution slowly faded as they walked out from behind the wall, revealing their form.

Shiro: [...Kō…]

Kōkatsu: [What’s with the expression? Ya look all gloomy to see me!...Well, I guess given the situation, it only makes sense. When I find out who pulled that shit, though, they’re dead meat.]

Standing in silence for several seconds, the two let their eyes gaze at the area around them as their thoughts wandered.

Shiro: [...Thanks for the help. I…I wasn’t really sure I’d be able to make it to–]

Kōkatsu: [Don’t go worryin’ ‘bout that. I got it under control.]

Shiro: [Huh?]

Kōkatsu: [I’ll head over myself. My house can be used as a place to stay for the meantime, but ya don’t need to panic over the whole thing.]

Shiro: [Kō…honestly….you…]

Kōkatsu: [What? Are ya gonna start cryin’ over yer best friend’s little assistance?]

Shiro: [I’m…I’m not crying! But…thank you…seriously.]

Kōkatsu: [S’nothin’, really. We’re closer than close, and I’ll help ya in any way I can. Even if it means dyin’.]

Shiro: [Don’t go saying dark stuff like that after making me feel grateful!]

Kōkatsu: [I’m just sayin’, I would!]

A kind laugh was exchanged between them, before Kōkatsu’s ears flopped down in sadness.

Shiro: [Kō?]

Kōkatsu: [I guess I should probably tell ya…but it kinda hurts to even think ‘bout.]

Shiro: [I assume it involves Nero, right?]

Kōkatsu: [Yeah. Truth is…Yoro got killed. The Bloodfire troops shot her.]

A horrified look now wrapped itself to Shiro’s face.

Shiro: [W-What…?! There’s…there’s no way that’s–]

Kōkatsu: [I wish…but no. I guess Nero contacted Mena, and I got a pic of what she looks like now. Don’t think ya wanna see it, but I can confirm it myself. She’s gone…]

Shiro: [Why…Why would they…]

Kōkatsu: [I don’t know, and honestly, I want the answers now…Damn it!]

Slamming her fist against the wall, Kōkatsu provided the full display of her rage and sorrow with just the single attack alone.

Kōkatsu: [This shit turned Nero into a damn monster! I don’t get it! He doesn’t even look the same as his old, stupidly kind self anymore! His eyes are way scarier, and his hair ain’t as short as it was before! Nothing ‘bout him is right!]

Shiro: [Kō…]

Kōkatsu: [I hate thinkin’ ‘bout it. I get the reason why it started, but there’s no reason why this would even happen!]

Shiro: [Speaking of Nero…where is he now…?]

Kōkatsu: [He used our little arrest to his advantage.]

Shiro: [What do you mean?]

Kōkatsu: [I kinda noticed when I got to his palace, and honestly, I wasn’t sure if it was true or not. I didn’t even wanna consider any bad options to begin with, but that’s besides the point. Little Vari was missin’. Neither I nor Nero know where she went, so I guess gettin’ captured wasn’t that big of a deal at the moment for him. It probably upset him, but at that point, he had no clues on his daughter’s where’bouts.]

Shiro’s face only began to contort more as she received the extra sentences of bad news.

Shiro: [Varius is missing?! What…What’s happening…Wait…]

She then took notice of a single statement that Kōkatsu had spoken.

Shiro: [“At that point”...meaning he had a clue afterwards?]

Kōkatsu: [Before we spoke to Nero, Helig got a call from someone under her. I don’t know the details, she didn’t tell me much to begin with, but apparently it was someone mentionin’ somethin’ ‘bout an emergency mission or somethin’ along those lines, with her. I don’t know how any of it worked, s’all confusing to me. My point is, Nero heard that call thanks to his clairvoyance, which he was able to use for some reason, and left shortly after we spoke to him. I honestly thought he would just take out both Helig’s and my people, but it made sense when I started piecin’ it together. He wasn’t focused on killin’ any of us, at least not at the moment anyways. He was still focused on Varius.]

Shiro: [Did the phone call mention something about her?]

Kōkatsu: [No clue. I was given some real vague info, but so was Helig to begin with. All we know is that a kid was rescued from somewhere.]

Shiro: [I see…Well, from a certain angle, it’s rather relieving to hear.]

Kōkatsu: [Yeah. Helig doesn’t know ‘bout Varius either. So if it is her, she won’t be immediately tracked or anythin’ like that.]

Shiro: [I really hope it’s her…]

Kōkatsu: [Yeah…I do as well…Right. We should focus on what yer gonna do from here.]

Shiro: [Right. I’m not entirely sure where I’ll go–]

Kōkatsu: [Here.]

Shiro: [Huh?]

Before she could finish speaking, a folded map was presented to Shiro.

Kōkatsu: [I marked down where we’re at right now, and where we’ll all meet up. There’s a small kitsune village by there. I know the people in it. We’ll group up there, then head out towards Nero after that. Ideally, I’d like to get the others on board. Gratti and Patri worry me with whether they’ll join or not, and I can’t ever predict how Vogel will act, but Helig will most likely be there. It might take some talkin’, but hopefully she’ll hear ya out.]

Shiro: [Yeah…Well, I guess I should get to it then.]

Kōkatsu: [Take care of yerself in the meantime, Shiro.]

Shiro: [You too, Kō. Be careful that you don’t get caught.]

Kōkatsu: [Hah! Like you have room to talk!]

Moving in to hug each other, they stood several seconds as their kind arms wrapped around their bodies. Occasionally pats on the back were provided from both of their hands.

Kōkatsu: [Alright. Get goin’ now.]

Shiro: [Right. I’ll see you then. Make sure to–]

Kōkatsu: [Yup. Like I said, that’s where I’m headed next.]

With their smiles signifying their separation, Shiro quickly ran down the long tunnel.

Kōkatsu stood and watched as she disappeared into the distance, before exhaling deeply and slowly walking in the opposite direction.

The secret plan formed by Kōkatsu and Silvia, with Shiro performing as the main force behind it, was now underway.

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