An hour later and we had finally arrived in the clearing of a large forest which I assumed to be Kitsune forest. Touching down lightly on the leafy green floor Shin sat down and motioned for me to do the same "Shouldn't we go and meet them?" I asked Shin wondering why we were sitting there, Shin just laughed.

"No they'll come to us, although you have a contract with me, your strong spiritual energy may make you a target. Luckily that is currently being concealed by the kitsune cloth, but your human clothes will easily give you away so Aiko will be coming with some spares, to make you look more like one of us." 

Smiling at the motion I calmly enjoyed the scenery for five more minutes nefore I heard the rustling of leaves a few metres away. A grinning Aiko ran into the clearing and gave me a hug "Rai! Nice to see you again, you excited for your first full moon festival?" 

I smiled at Aiko "I'm really excited, and thanks alot for your help last time. The exorcists still haven't figured out who I am and one of them punched the person they thought I was in the face." Aiko burst into laughter, "that sounds like a sight to behold." 

Shin smiled but gave us a warning "Now now you two they'll be time for catching up later, Aiko do you have the clothes?" Aiko nodded and pulled out a dark blue yukata "here you go Rai, try it on too see if it fits," walking round to hide behind Shin I quickly got changed then emerged. 

"Wow," said Aiko "you look great Rai" I smiled at the complement then saw Aiko rummaging through a bag I didn't know she had before she pulled out a mask. The mask was similar to Shin's face with a different colour scheme matching my yukata. 

Handing me the mask I quickly put it over my face, seeing this Shin stared at me quietly "Honestly if I didn't know better I'd say he was one of us." I looked at him in surprise "Really?" Aiko laughed "Really. Anyway now we're done here let's go meet my brother and some friends then go enjoy the festival."  

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Smiling I followed Shin and Aiko onto a small path that lead out of the clearing, finally after ten minutes of walking on the path we came to an old tree. Walking up to the tree Aiko started to call out "brother we're here already."

for a minute no one answered, however just as she was about to call out again a reply came "Yes, yes it's fine I can see you, you know?" I looked up, on the topmost branch of the tree layer what looked like a young man with dark purple hair, a red yukata and a face that looked similar to Aiko's.

Jumping down from the tree the man I assumed to be Ayato turned to face me "hmmmm, are you a friend of Shin's then? I thought he was bringing his contractor?" Shin burst out into laughter "this is my contractor, Ayato meet Rai, Rai meet Ayato." 

Ayato stared at me with a shocked look on his face "I know you said his presence was similar to ours I never imagined he could be disguised as one of us so well." I smiled at him "nice to meet you I'm Rai." Ayato smiled at me "likewise," 

"Now," said Ayato "It's time to meet up with the others so we're going to the sakura trees in the forest to meet the rest of them, so just follow me." Ayato started to walk through the trees followed by Shin, then me then Aiko. 

As we walked I laughed inside about how in this particular occasion the youkai had been more welcoming of me than the humans had ever been. Chuckling silently I continued after Ayato until we enter a Grove of sakura trees. 

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I'm really sorry for the gaps between releases like this as Iv been studying for exams hope you enjoy the story and please give me a comment, rate or review so I know how I'm doing as Iv not written this genre before :)