“That is quite sad to hear.” The elderly man sitting before her commented. Eva had just finished retelling her first and last interaction with Mumei. “Those are some big responsibilities you’ll have to live up to now.” He continued, his brow wrinkled even more than before the young Kitsune began her story.

“I am quite aware.” She replied the right one of her foxy ears flicking back and forth. “And it doesn’t help that I have no idea how to even be a normal Kitsune, let alone a Kami.” Slumping forward a bit she buried her face in her hands.

“Ah yes, you mentioned you were just an unaware mortal before that night.” The ancient Kami remarked as he leaned back. Well as much as his crooked spine allowed. “Then this past month must have been quite a challenge for you.”

“Yes, though it would be nice to know more about what it means to be a Kitsune than what people remember Mumei telling them.”

“Hm I might -” he began to reply, before getting interrupted as someone behind Eva tried to get his attention. “Just one moment.” He shouted past the German before picking up the fox still sleeping on his head and putting it down on the floor. “Well young Eva, my presence is needed elsewhere, but Gon here will surely be able to answer some of your questions.”

He then poked the little fox with his feet. “Gon time to get up.”

“Ugh already?” the young fox mumbled as he opened his eyes slowly.

“Yes, now you be a good boy and take care of Eva here.” He explained with a wave towards the young woman. “She has some questions I hope you will be able to answer for her.”

“Of-of course.” Came the quick response. “I’ll do my best to help her.” The little fox finished before turning into a teenaged boy wearing similar old fashioned work clothes as the elderly Inari wore. His hair was the same white as his fur had been, and still was where it remained on his ears and singular tail.

While the old man waved as he left, the boy gave a respectful bow towards Eva. “I am at your service Lady Inari.”

“Ah no need to be so formal.” Eva said clearly embarrassed as her tails began to wave side to side. “Just call me Eva.”

“Okay.” The boy said, visibly slouching into what Eva presumed to be a more relaxed posture as he sat on the now empty seat. “So how can I help you?”

“Well I hoped to learn more about what it means to be a Kitsune, as this.” She flicks one of her tails towards her ears. “Is a rather new development for me.”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“Any more concrete questions you want to ask first?” Gon inquires, his eyes trailing the two tails flicking from side to side behind the female Kitsune.

“Well the most pressing is about keeping oaths and promises.” Eva said, wringing her hands. “Is it true that we lose tails and powers when we break those?”

Hearing those words, Gon’s face twisted into a smirk as he looked around. When he confirmed that most around were probably in the know, he let a chuckle escape his lips before he responded. “Oh no. Though you’ll not let anyone know about it. After all the presumption that we’ll be harmed as much by breaking a promise as we harm those that break them with us is half the reason we get away with that.” His smirk widened a bit more as he continued. “Not to mention it’s a prank started by the first of our kind, keeping it up is a great joke played on everyone else.”

As she took in this response, Eva let out a deeply relieved sigh.

“You know, just about everyone that wasn’t born a Kitsune let’s out that same sigh once they learn about this.”

“Huh so how do people become Kitsune often enough that something like this becomes common?”

“Well there’s the still quite common mortal fox ascending through various means.” Seeing the questioning look from Eva he elaborated a bit. “Well besides the old fashioned living a century, the most common ones are strays or pets living at shrines and temples that end up living a pious enough life to ascend that little bit. Other than foxes, there are often humas with a very distant Kitsune ancestor. Most of them awaken their heritage through contact with the supernatural.” Taking a short break to let out a deep sigh, Gon looked around at the Kami around them. “And then of course there are those that are granted their new nature as a boon by one of the many Inaris for one reason or another.”

“I see.” Eva said with a nod as Gon finished his explanation. “So what can we Kitsune actually do?”

“Well it depends a lot on the individual and what kinds of magic they try to study and how many tails they have earned.” the younger Kitsune began. “Though all of us can easily change shapes, and have some skills with illusions. And as divine Messengers most of us here have been granted abilities to assist with those duties.”

“Huh, so how would one go about making illusions?” Eva inquired.

“How about we go somewhere a bit more private so we don’t disturb anyone and I show you the ropes?”

Giving only a nod in response, Eva followed after Gon, who began to lead her down one of the small corridors branching off from where they had been sitting.

~~~

Back in Osaka, Kurt was headed to get some more takoyaki and figuring out what to do this Saturday, as a familiar figure walked up to him.

“Hello, Kurt wasn’t it?” Asked the young woman, who the Werewolf knew was some kind of supernatural being. Few humans lacked any scent. Fewer still didn’t have a heartbeat he could hear after all.

“Yes, Ningyou right?” He replied with a smile.

“Where is your girlfriend?”

That caught him off guard. “Ev-Eva isn’t my girlfriend, she’s just a friend that's also a girl. And she’s busy the rest of the weekend why?”

“Well I’d like to introduce you to some of my friends if that’s alright."