-MOTOYUKI-

It had been a long time since I had been asleep; dealing with the fellow field fox had not been ideal in the slightest, but my territory was my own, and it required a firm hand to prevent it from being overrun by imbeciles.

I turned myself over in my den; the shrine luckily had enough Power in the earth to imbue me with a bit of strength throughout my nap.

However...it was not nearly enough to even after a century.

I sighed, opening one eye, attempting to right myself and get comfortable, but nothing seemed to work. I couldn't place my paw on it, but something was about to happen.

A whisper across the threshold of spirits came to me from the nearby Torii gate.

[[A little one comes.]] someone said.

[[How delightful! Thank you, Goddess!]], another said.

Ugh, so annoying these Heavenly Beings, pompous foxes who carried naught a bit of pleasantry or politeness. Most had been around for many years, more than I could count even in my fifteen-hundred years of age.

Although the last five hundred had been as a Fox.

I was a "special case," as some put it. Others thought I was a pity blessing; however, they'd never say that in front of the Goddess. Inari would have been quite crossing with them. She did, in fact, choose me for whatever reason.

I sighed long and almost mournful; I sometimes missed my old life. However, a life boring was life still gained rather than rotting in the spirit space of nothingness.

So for that, I was grateful.

There was a tremor. Not within the earth, but within the air. A shimmer of Power rippling slightly from the sky and going...down? Is it falling?!

I popped my head up from my den's opening after an earth-shattering crash rumbled the ground I lay in.

Looking around, I didn't quite see anything, so I decided to creep out of the bushes, flames at the ready in case it was another attack. But when I nosed my way past the leaves of the brushes, I stopped.

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A young Kitsune was lying on a greenery nest, light enveloping her whole form in white and blue foxfire. I crept closer and sniffed at her, not seeing her breathing, and realized her soul had yet to settle into her body. With a nudge, I breathed a bit of Power onto her hand and watched it get sucked into her skin.

She had to be the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, long red-brown lashes resting against her cheeks, hiding large eyes filled with what I imagined would be a wonder. Mahogany hair in a thick knee-length mass, cream tipped fur, and adorable ears that flicked now as her soul began to settle inside its new residence.

She had died...I remembered this phase of my own reincarnation.

She did not smell like she was from this world, though-- in fact, she smelled...different, non-magic, almost like a human soul as I watched an orb of bright light appear and drop into her chest.

She will be awake soon. I stepped aside and hid to keep an eye on her lest anyone come to take advantage; I was curious about this little fox.

And not being bored for the first time in five hundred years was a bonus.

Once she came to, I realized I was right-- she had been human, what a blessing to be claimed by the Goddess. However-- I knew that blessing often came at the price of great suffering in one's past life. This girl must also have a persevering nature. Having caught sight of large honey-colored eyes glancing wildly around to see where she was, I laughed when she touched her ears and squeaked in surprise. Oh yes, my dear, be careful with them. I sat back on my haunches and watched as she found the drinking trough and looked at her reflection.

I watched her exercise, one ear up, one ear down, both down, both up. I stifled a fox chattering laugh as she realized she had a tail and began to snuggle into it for warmth; this was absolutely adorable.

I followed her around to make sure she was safe-- just for a bit, and then I would be off, I told myself.

Once she was in residence, I noticed a Crane walking to the back kitchen as I began to take my leave. I could hardly contain the bristle that ran up my hackles. What does this Crane want with my little fox? Following her, I readied myself to attack if needed. Oh...just a Temple woman. Sighing with relief, it appeared they had gotten an Oracle about this young one.

After the Crane left, I decided to stick around for a while. Who knew what ruffian would take advantage of an adorable little fox such as this. Like that damn Seichii. I growled in annoyance, but I realized that I was starving, and the smell of food made me poke my head through the door.

I should leave...this is no place for a field fox. But a deep sigh escaped her, and her ears flattened down after she was enjoying her meal-- and she glanced about the place with an air of melancholy.

I cursed myself for being rooted to the spot. Damn it all...

Maybe I'll stay for a bite...