Prince of Tennis - Yanagi Renji - 055 - Spirit
Title: Blood, Fire, Fox
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Characters: Yanagi Renji, Yanagi Kana, Yanagi Takahiro, Sanada Genichiro, Yukimura Seiichi
Prompt: 055 - Spirit
Word Count: 4,619
Rating: R
Summary: A kitsune born to human parents. One who harbors much hatred to those in charge and lets out that hatred in destructive ways. One who learns that there's much, much more to families and love.
Author's Notes:
Rating is for the violence, suggested sexual themes and character death.
Takes place in a bit of a historical AU.
For those curious, a kitsune is a Japanese trickster spirit, usually in the form of a fox.
Also, the plot kind of derailed halfway through. And I know I'm not the first, nor only, person to have considered this idea. This is just my take on it. Now maybe kitsune!Renji will stop eating my brain.
My LDT found here
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was night in the small village. Most of the villagers had turned in, satisfied that they would be safe for the night before getting up again in the morning to perform their daily tasks.
One young man though, was not content to sleep. Securing a knife to his ankle, he stalked out of the dwelling.
The further the man wandered into the forest, the more ill at ease he was.
"Weary traveler, you should rest." A soft, feminine voice called out to him.
"I can't." He responded, trying to keep going, even if he wasn't sure where he was going.
In the blink of an eye the woman stopped in front of him, holding him still with just an arm in the center of his chest. "You will." She said softly, pressing up against him, smiling. "This is fate." She said, pulling him down to the ground.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It had been almost two years since he had seen her. No one had known of her - known who she might be. He had woken up disheveled and alone in the morning. Though he swore he had seen tracks that did not belong to human feet that led away from him.
Was it really...
"Are you going to come eat some breakfast, Renji?" A voice interrupted his thoughts.
"I'll be there in a moment." He said, finishing getting dressed. He'd have to finish up the swords that were promised to be ready by the next day. He joined his sister in the little kitchen. She was the only family he had left. Their mother had died giving birth to her son, and their father had only recently passed on. Thankfully, he had shared his smithing knowledge with his son.
The two siblings ate quietly, just enjoying the peace. "Have you heard the rumor that there's a baby fox that's been stalking the village? We've been scared it might go after some of the livestock, but some of the old ladies say it's not interested in anything it can eat. It just stares into the village like it's looking for something, but is too scared to actually come in beyond the border." Kana said.
Renji frowned. A baby fox? Why wouldn't it bother hunting some of the smaller livestock? Wasn't it hungry too? Or was there some other reason?
"I don't have time to waste thinking about something that doesn't concern me." He said, sliding his bowl across the table, and getting up. "I have things to do."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Could it really have been what he thought? That was just a superstition, wasn't it? Renji pounded the metal into shape, finally satisfied with it, and set it, allowing it to cool.
Renji sat down on a stool in his work area, sighing a little. Kana and her silly stories. Why should they worry about a fox that wasn't attacking anything. If it was leaving them alone, there wasn't a problem.
That evening he wrapped himself in all he could since it was autumn and the air was getting chilly at night. Glancing at his sleeping sister, whispering a soft good bye, he left to wander to the forest.
It was the exact same path he had taken those two years ago. His feet led him to the exact place where he and the woman had lain together. Under a nearby tree laid a beautiful golden red fox, a pup curled next to her. It looked up at him, recognizition shining its eyes. The fox nuzzled her pup, and stood up, transforming into that same woman. Renji gasped as the transformation happened.
"You're..."
The woman smiled. "A kitsune." She said, approaching him. "I thought you had forgotten." She said, arms wrapping around the tall man.
"You...ran." He said, feeling a bit hurt. "The pup is a half-breed then, isn't it?" He asked softly, somehow knowing it was born of his own seed.
The half-fox like woman nodded. "We're not welcome among the humans."
"My family would welcome you. I see your point though." He looked over at the kit, feeling just a little sad for it.
"He's only just learned to transform, and he still sleeps a lot." She said, following his line of sight. The kitsune looked up at him. "You'll be shunned as well." She told him.
"It's my responsibility." He said quietly. "And...the child is male? If he can remain in human form for long enough, then I doubt anyone would know. I can evade any other questions."
"What about me?" She asked, her four tails twitching nervously.
Renji sighed and closed his eyes. "If they found out, they would try to kill you." He said, resting his forehead against hers, and kissing her. "I will protect you from afar though. It will be easier to protect him if he's closer though."
"I've lived for centuries. I'll be fine." She said, smiling. "I am a kitsune, after all."
Renji nodded. "Just stay safe...If you need me, you know where to find me." He said. "As far as I'm concerned, you're welcome any time."
The woman nodded, and transformed back to her fox form, going over to the child, and saying good bye to him as Renji picked up the little one. The child looked up at him, and looked scared, but then relaxed in Renji's arms.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Years passed, and the child was able to stay in human form for days. In fact, it was rare that he transformed at all. Several people had asked Renji where the child had came from, but he wouldn't tell the truth to even his sister. The boy was so talented at almost every thing he did it was scary.
Rumors bounced around the village. A few of them were correct, but Renji would neither confirm nor deny them. The only story was that he had found the child in the woods surrounding the village, no parents nearby.
Kana had become the boy's mother figure, even once she had found herself a suitable husband and had children of her own.
And there were nights when Renji could feel a presence against him, but he always woke up alone the next morning.
One day the child started getting curious about things. "Father, where's my mother? Why doesn't she live with us?" The small looked up at his father, looking scared. "Why am I treated differently?" He asked, just wanting to be accepted.
Renji looked up from his work, knowing this current piece wasn't going to be very useful in the end. He sighed quietly and set the work aside.
"Takahiro, come here." Renji said quietly, gathering the young half-fox in his arm. "Your mother wouldn't be accepted by everyone in the village. She's nearby though." Renji tried to reassure the boy. It was time to at least tell the boy the truth. "Your mother is a kitsune. Most everyone else knows of them to be tricksters, demons that live only to fool us humans. It's not the truth though. I love your mother very much, even if she can't be with us. And...you're treated differently because I think they know you're not normal. You're a half-breed. I haven't seen it lately, but you have that fox-spirit half in you. When you were young, you spent your time sleeping in your fox form. You've been with us humans for such a long time, I don't know if you still can."
Takahiro bounced a little. "I can do that!" He said, and quickly transformed.
"Don't do that!" Renji said. "At least not in front of other people. They don't know you can do it, and you can't let them know. It's a secret between you and me, alright?"
"That's not fun." Takahiro said, transforming back into his human guise.
"Ears, Takahiro." Renji said, smiling a little as the boy had to consciously think about removing his fox ears. "Better."
What they didn't know was that Kana had heard and seen everything.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Please, you have to do something. He's been tricked by a demon!" Kana begged the leader of their village, a soft, almost feminine man with dark hair highlighted in blue.
"What am I supposed to do?" He asked her quietly. "You said that he has chosen this, correct? And the child is a halfling? What if he retaliates?"
"It's a child, he wouldn't know unless he's told." The leader's right hand man said.
"Kill them both!" Kana said. "They're both demons! They've both tricked my brother, and I won't stand for it!" She cried, turning on her heal and marched out of the dwelling.
"This is getting interesting, isn't it?" The leader said, smiling a little. "You know what to do, Genichiro." The other man nodded, preparing for a venture into the woods that night, but not before taking care of one other problem that wasn't at the other man's behest.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The dead stillness of the night was broken only by a few shuffling footsteps that could only be heard if you were listening for them. How ironic that a blade that you made is going to destroy your demon family... Genichirou thought as he drew his blade to slay the half-fox as he slept.
"What are you doing?" Asked Renji, a knife at the other man's throat. "Put the sword away and I won't kill you."
Genichiro put the sword away slowly, and Renji removed his knife from his throat. "Why?"
"He doesn't deserve to die. If you want to kill someone, kill me. I didn't know what she was when it happened. And he's more human than kitsune at this point. He only knows he can change form, and he's not very good at it. If he stays with us humans, he will forget even that at some point." Renji said.
"Even more reason for them to be slain." Genichiro turned on his heel. "I'll spare him for now. However, it has been decreed that the vixen be slain, and I plan on coming back with a new fur coat." With that he marched out of the dwelling and headed into the forest.
Renji mouthed a name that was known only to himself. He knelt down beside Takahiro. "We have to go." He said, picking up the boy in his arms.
"Father?" The boy said sleepily.
"Shh." Renji said, smiling sadly. "I'll tell you why later." He said, stealing out into the night.
Renji ran with his son his arms for what seemed like ages. He sat down on a fallen tree. "You're safe?" He inquired into the thin air.
"I am." A voice answered, and Renji felt the dog-like muzzle of his lover resting on his shoulder. "You shouldn't have to run from them because of me."
"Takahiro is in danger, as are you. I should protect you both."
"You may create swords, but can you use one?" She said quietly.
"I don't need a sword to protect my family." Renji said just as quietly, standing up to continue the journey.
"I can't go much further, but I will go as far as I can." She promised, standing as well. Renji nodded, picking up the boy again. They were far from the village now, and hopefully far from the hunter. The female stumbled at one point. "I...I can't go any further." She said, looking around frantically, noticing a cave and heading into it. It would have to do.
Renji watched her. "Where...why?" He called. Takahiro awoke, watching this.
"Mother?" He asked, somehow knowing it was her. Takahiro transformed into his own fox form and followed her, running back to his father's arms very quickly. Renji cradled the young fox spirit, suddenly knowing why his lover couldn't go on.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He said softly. "Even more reason for me to protect you."
"I didn't need help the first time." She said stubbornly "I certainly don't need it now."
"You need it more than ever!" Renji declared. "You're being hunted because you bore me children! They want me to go on alone, and I'm not going to allow that. I love you." He said, his voice coming out in a choked whisper. "Even if we have to start our own village, away from everyone else."
"What about your sister?" The fox asked, trying to hide her obvious pain.
"I somehow think she's behind this." Renji said, frowning. "Her and Seiichi." He muttered. "Takahiro, stay with your mother. I have something I must take care of." He said, picking up his knife, knowing this time, they had to die.
"Renji!" The female spirit called out, the last syllable drowning into a howl of pain.
"Take care of your mother if I don't come back." Renji said, taking a look at the young man. "Whatever you do, you'll become a fine adult." He said, knowing quite well he may never come back.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The tracks faded, and eventually turned into nothing. Those damned demons! Covering their tracks with their magic. Genichiro snarled, cursing the demons that done something to one of his best friends. It was odd enough that Renji had returned one day with a child, never mind that he wouldn't say where the child had came from. From that day on everyone had thought the worst. From the rumors that the child was born of a prostitute in another village, everyone had thought the worst of Renji. They at least gave him credit for trying to do the right thing, but the right thing would have been to make the poor girl his wife.
And then Kana had came to them with the truth.
Genichiro was about ready to give up when he heard the footsteps. Crouching, ready to draw his katana if it turned out to be one of them - or anything else dangerous, he moved quietly towards the noise.
Renji stepped in front of him. "I don't want to do this, Genichirou. Just leave us be." Renji pleaded quietly.
"They're a menace."
"They're my family." Renji said, his fingers twitching on the hilt of the knife.
"That's not a family." The larger man said, drawing his sword and advancing towards Renji. Renji neatly stepped out of the way of the oncoming blade, circling around him.
"They are to me. And if I have to die to protect them, I will." Renji snarled. He was on edge, and this wasn't helping. Renji could feel his muscles tensing, and a battle aura surrounding him. He had never been in a fight this dangerous before. A faint glow started surrounding the man, features changing.
"You're...you're one of them!" Genichiro growled, redoubling his efforts as the now half-fox like Renji continued to evade him.
"You're not welcome here! Go back, and leave us! The blessing placed on your village is no more. Your rice paddies shall dry out and your children's children will be barren!" The newly formed fox spirit decreed. "Now return to that man and relay that to him! The kitsune will no longer offer their protection to him, his offspring, or any of the ones that look to him for protection."
It was one of the few times that Genichirou had actually feared for his life and ran from the fight.
Satisfied that they would be safe for the moment, Renji returned to the den his lover had picked out to give birth to their second child. The newborn kit was suckling contentedly when he returned. The female looked up at the man that had fathered her children, surprised. Before her was not the human that she had thought was the father of her children, but rather another of her own kind, in a half-human, half-fox form. Fox ears and more tails than even she had were growing out of the still mostly human body.
"My princess." He said quietly, kneeling before her.
"You're not human. That means...they're..."
"They are completely of kitsune blood." He reassured her. "Those humans are fools. My mother did die in childbirth. My 'sister' is their fully human child. My father was not the same as hers. He was a male kitsune that tricked her into thinking that he was her mate. It's been 20 long years since I've been able to do this - since I've known who I really was." Renji said quietly. "My soul is much older than that. And now, my princess, I have something to do, but I promise I will return to you, and our children." He said, nuzzling her. "Just stay safe." Renji said, finishing the transformation into a fox and ran back towards the village.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"We really aren't going to have enough food to last through the winter." Kana said as her and some of the other village women were preserving some of the food for the winter. The summer had been drier than usual, and there wasn't much that would grow nearby. And she hadn't seen her brother in years. Not since...
Kana thought about it. These hard times started after Renji had disappeared. It was almost like the events had a connection. Had he known somehow that the drought was coming? He couldn't have. And their smaller livestock have been disappearing. It was strange, and no one had any answers.
Kana made sure her children were safe in bed, then stood outside the dwelling - the same one where her father and brother had made tools and weapons for years, the forge silent.
"Renji...what happened to you?" She whispered into the night, hoping that this night, he would return. And he did, in a way.
"Kana, this is important. The village is going to burn. If you don't wish to suffer as well, you and your children should leave. Though I'm of the opinion that the one should be left behind, you and your children are still my family, even if I know you cheated on your own mate.
"If you want to be safe, follow the golden fox that lies in just beyond the border of forest village, and he will lead you to safety. If you feel loyal to them, however...I can't stop you. The kitsune will welcome you into their clan." Renji said quietly in Kana's dream. "Know I love you, even if I can't be with you any longer. I never was what you thought I was, dear sister."
Kana sat up, gasping a little. "Renji...What...how..." She said, confused. Kana shook her head to clear it. "Just a dream. I miss him so much I dreamed about him." She said quietly. "That warning though..." She thought about it, then decided it wasn't worth heeding. "It was just a dream."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It started simply, smoke rising from small building, flames barely eating at it. The flames got stronger as no one noticed the original spark that started it. Renji sat at the edge of the forest, smiling at his work, hoping that Kana and her children would follow the warning in the dream he sent her.
The villagers finally awoke to the smell of smoke and the flames engulfing their homes, taking with it their food stores and their means of living. Mass panic engulfed most of them, a few finally calming down enough to think to start bringing water in, but it was too late.
Renji stalked around the forest, circling the village, watching for any sign of Kana and her children. "Stupid woman." He muttered under his breath. She was part of his human family, but it showed that she was just another stupid human just like the rest of them. The fox crouched down on its haunches, watching closely, ready to bolt at any moment when his eyes met those of one of the humans. Him. The hunter.
Renji ran off as fast as he possibly could, his four legged form much faster than the two legs of a human. That didn't stop the human from chasing him though. Renji ran in the opposite direction of where he had left his kitsune family. There was no sense in putting them in danger - especially not with a newborn. They needed to be safe. Renji stopped once he got a to clearing.
"Mutt! It was you, wasn't it?" Sanada growled out, drawing his sword.
"You should have stayed and died with the rest of them!" Renji growled back, jumping out of the way of the sword's arc. "Your 'honorable' leader isn't so damned honorable." He spit, tackling the swordsman, claws digging into the man's chest, sharp teeth just centimeters away from his neck. "He ordered you to hunt her down, didn't he?" Renji's muzzle got closer and closer. "He only did it so he could sneak away to be with his secret lover." Renji's teeth finally sank in through the skin in Sanada's neck.
"Mutt..." He breathed out, his arm trying to bring the katana around. Renji's forepaw stepped on the arm, preventing it from moving.
"You're just another stupid human." Renji said, looking in the man's eyes. "I may have thought of you as a friend, but now you are nothing more than my enemy. Sayonara, Genichiro." Renji said, closing his eyes and biting down into the man's neck again.
Before Renji could clench his jaw any further and finish his former friend off, there was a projectile that grazed past his ear. Jumping off the almost dead samurai, Renji bolted, not about to wait to find out who had thrown it.
"Renji." A soft voice called out. Renji bristled and stopped, turning around at the voice. It was too familiar to him. It was a voice that familiar and one he would have not listened to except for the fact that it was ingrained into every fiber of his being to do so.
The person seemed to be not of this world. The smoke from the village fire was setting down around them, and it outlined his silhouette in a very ethereal way. The loosely tied yukata hung just off the man's narrow shoulders, partially baring his chest. "Stand up, Genichiro." He ordered, looking at his second in command. Sanada did so, using his katana to help him keep his balance as he stood.
Renji stood, tensed for battle yet, growling low in his throat. "Is this the way you repay the kindness shown to you? Your human family cared about you, didn't they? We gave you a place in this village, shelter for years, and you destroy everything you've ever known, just for the sake of an animal?" Yukimura asked quietly.
Renji snarled. "My mate...the mother of my children. She is not an animal!" He cried out angrily, launching himself towards but stopping short when Sanada's blade was drawn at him again. "I warned you! You ostracized us once you knew Takahiro was one of us." Renji took another step forward, despite the blade. "And Kana! How could you do that when you knew she was another's mate." He hissed at Yukimura, who jumped in surprise, then started laughing.
"I didn't think that would happen." He chuckled. "I needed an heir anyway. Besides, you hadn't figured it out by now that she's the town whore? It was her that sold her body in exchange for both you and her to live. You didn't think your swords were going to keep you afloat." Yukimura strode right up to Renji, taking the fox's muzzle in his hand. "I just happened to be her best customer. I was making sure she could care for her children, but even they don't have a future now thanks to you." He spit in the fox's eye. "Have any thing to say for yourself?"
Renji winced, shaking the saliva out of his eye, growling. "I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. If anyone but us knew the real you, no one would be willing to even trust you. I just did everyone a favor." Renji had a steely look in his eyes, glued to the small man's neck. "Do you want to die too, Seiichi?" And in the blink of an eye Renji had suddenly moved from where he had been to having knocked over the blue haired one, claws and fangs near his neck. "Do you?"
"I'm not afraid of dying."
Teeth sunk in, puncturing arteries and veins, the blood staining the frosted ground. There were no cries or howls, just a quiet acceptance of what was. The only sound was of Sanada's scream of "Yukimura!" as the bones snapped and the red substance of life drained away.
"And you, Genichiro?" Renji turned to the last remaining man.
"I have nothing to live for now." He said quietly, pulling his sword up to a position in which he could use it against himself. Renji jumped and kicked the blade from the man's hands using his paws.
"Join me. Rebuild your life into something much more honorable. Help prove that our kind can live in peace."
"I'm old. I devoted my life to him. Joining you would be betraying everything I ever stood for. I'd rather die before joining up with a beast like you."
Renji stalked away. "I gave you a choice in the end. I'm disappointed that you won't do the honorable thing. I thought I knew you better than that." The fox like creature disappeared into the fog of the now morning hours.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Five years later, the kitsune children were growing wise and strong, along with humans who knew what they were and accepted them. The kitsune didn't have to hide by pretending to be human, and only did so if they were asked to. Everyone was equal, and the young children liked playing with each other.
The village was very content with how things were going. It was one fall morning when she walked into the village, three little ones clinging to her, and a pre-teen walking with her. Renji was surprised, the scent was rather familiar to him. He changed into his human form, and ran out. He paused. "Kana..." He breathed out. The woman looked at him, and stumbled towards him.
"Renji...why?" She asked, grabbing him around the waist, more to hold herself up.
"I could ask much the same of you." He said quietly, just holding the woman that was born to his human parents before him. "They all have different fathers, don't they?" He asked quietly, knowing just from the smell of the young ones that it was true.
Kana just nodded. "Two of them actually do have the same father. The other two don't. They share nothing except my own blood." She said quietly, then looked up into Renji's eyes. "The night of the fire...we knew Yukimura wouldn't come back. Sanada did. He took care of us. I...I was afraid of you - what you were. But...he's..." Kana just broke down, crying.
Renji looked away as Kana dampened his clothes with tears. "I killed him." He admitted, glancing at the oldest child. "I...I had to. But I let Genichiro live. I had to do that as well."
"He's dead now too." Kana sniffled, pulling away. "He told us about what you wanted. I'm sorry. I truly am." Kana bowed. "If you can forgive me, forgive my ways, and forgive my children for their fathers' sins, please allow us to remain with you here."
"Kana...I understand. You're forgiven. As for your children, they won't be blamed for anything their fathers did. You are more than welcome here." Renji said, as his kitsune daughter came up behind him. "Nozomi, say hello to your aunt." Renji said gently.
Kana smiled, overwhelmed that the kitsune who had barely lived as a human could be so forgiving towards her and her former lovers. "Thank you." She whispered.
"It's what your family is for." Renji said quietly.
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Characters: Yanagi Renji, Yanagi Kana, Yanagi Takahiro, Sanada Genichiro, Yukimura Seiichi
Prompt: 055 - Spirit
Word Count: 4,619
Rating: R
Summary: A kitsune born to human parents. One who harbors much hatred to those in charge and lets out that hatred in destructive ways. One who learns that there's much, much more to families and love.
Author's Notes:
Rating is for the violence, suggested sexual themes and character death.
Takes place in a bit of a historical AU.
For those curious, a kitsune is a Japanese trickster spirit, usually in the form of a fox.
Also, the plot kind of derailed halfway through. And I know I'm not the first, nor only, person to have considered this idea. This is just my take on it. Now maybe kitsune!Renji will stop eating my brain.
My LDT found here
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was night in the small village. Most of the villagers had turned in, satisfied that they would be safe for the night before getting up again in the morning to perform their daily tasks.
One young man though, was not content to sleep. Securing a knife to his ankle, he stalked out of the dwelling.
The further the man wandered into the forest, the more ill at ease he was.
"Weary traveler, you should rest." A soft, feminine voice called out to him.
"I can't." He responded, trying to keep going, even if he wasn't sure where he was going.
In the blink of an eye the woman stopped in front of him, holding him still with just an arm in the center of his chest. "You will." She said softly, pressing up against him, smiling. "This is fate." She said, pulling him down to the ground.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It had been almost two years since he had seen her. No one had known of her - known who she might be. He had woken up disheveled and alone in the morning. Though he swore he had seen tracks that did not belong to human feet that led away from him.
Was it really...
"Are you going to come eat some breakfast, Renji?" A voice interrupted his thoughts.
"I'll be there in a moment." He said, finishing getting dressed. He'd have to finish up the swords that were promised to be ready by the next day. He joined his sister in the little kitchen. She was the only family he had left. Their mother had died giving birth to her son, and their father had only recently passed on. Thankfully, he had shared his smithing knowledge with his son.
The two siblings ate quietly, just enjoying the peace. "Have you heard the rumor that there's a baby fox that's been stalking the village? We've been scared it might go after some of the livestock, but some of the old ladies say it's not interested in anything it can eat. It just stares into the village like it's looking for something, but is too scared to actually come in beyond the border." Kana said.
Renji frowned. A baby fox? Why wouldn't it bother hunting some of the smaller livestock? Wasn't it hungry too? Or was there some other reason?
"I don't have time to waste thinking about something that doesn't concern me." He said, sliding his bowl across the table, and getting up. "I have things to do."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Could it really have been what he thought? That was just a superstition, wasn't it? Renji pounded the metal into shape, finally satisfied with it, and set it, allowing it to cool.
Renji sat down on a stool in his work area, sighing a little. Kana and her silly stories. Why should they worry about a fox that wasn't attacking anything. If it was leaving them alone, there wasn't a problem.
That evening he wrapped himself in all he could since it was autumn and the air was getting chilly at night. Glancing at his sleeping sister, whispering a soft good bye, he left to wander to the forest.
It was the exact same path he had taken those two years ago. His feet led him to the exact place where he and the woman had lain together. Under a nearby tree laid a beautiful golden red fox, a pup curled next to her. It looked up at him, recognizition shining its eyes. The fox nuzzled her pup, and stood up, transforming into that same woman. Renji gasped as the transformation happened.
"You're..."
The woman smiled. "A kitsune." She said, approaching him. "I thought you had forgotten." She said, arms wrapping around the tall man.
"You...ran." He said, feeling a bit hurt. "The pup is a half-breed then, isn't it?" He asked softly, somehow knowing it was born of his own seed.
The half-fox like woman nodded. "We're not welcome among the humans."
"My family would welcome you. I see your point though." He looked over at the kit, feeling just a little sad for it.
"He's only just learned to transform, and he still sleeps a lot." She said, following his line of sight. The kitsune looked up at him. "You'll be shunned as well." She told him.
"It's my responsibility." He said quietly. "And...the child is male? If he can remain in human form for long enough, then I doubt anyone would know. I can evade any other questions."
"What about me?" She asked, her four tails twitching nervously.
Renji sighed and closed his eyes. "If they found out, they would try to kill you." He said, resting his forehead against hers, and kissing her. "I will protect you from afar though. It will be easier to protect him if he's closer though."
"I've lived for centuries. I'll be fine." She said, smiling. "I am a kitsune, after all."
Renji nodded. "Just stay safe...If you need me, you know where to find me." He said. "As far as I'm concerned, you're welcome any time."
The woman nodded, and transformed back to her fox form, going over to the child, and saying good bye to him as Renji picked up the little one. The child looked up at him, and looked scared, but then relaxed in Renji's arms.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Years passed, and the child was able to stay in human form for days. In fact, it was rare that he transformed at all. Several people had asked Renji where the child had came from, but he wouldn't tell the truth to even his sister. The boy was so talented at almost every thing he did it was scary.
Rumors bounced around the village. A few of them were correct, but Renji would neither confirm nor deny them. The only story was that he had found the child in the woods surrounding the village, no parents nearby.
Kana had become the boy's mother figure, even once she had found herself a suitable husband and had children of her own.
And there were nights when Renji could feel a presence against him, but he always woke up alone the next morning.
One day the child started getting curious about things. "Father, where's my mother? Why doesn't she live with us?" The small looked up at his father, looking scared. "Why am I treated differently?" He asked, just wanting to be accepted.
Renji looked up from his work, knowing this current piece wasn't going to be very useful in the end. He sighed quietly and set the work aside.
"Takahiro, come here." Renji said quietly, gathering the young half-fox in his arm. "Your mother wouldn't be accepted by everyone in the village. She's nearby though." Renji tried to reassure the boy. It was time to at least tell the boy the truth. "Your mother is a kitsune. Most everyone else knows of them to be tricksters, demons that live only to fool us humans. It's not the truth though. I love your mother very much, even if she can't be with us. And...you're treated differently because I think they know you're not normal. You're a half-breed. I haven't seen it lately, but you have that fox-spirit half in you. When you were young, you spent your time sleeping in your fox form. You've been with us humans for such a long time, I don't know if you still can."
Takahiro bounced a little. "I can do that!" He said, and quickly transformed.
"Don't do that!" Renji said. "At least not in front of other people. They don't know you can do it, and you can't let them know. It's a secret between you and me, alright?"
"That's not fun." Takahiro said, transforming back into his human guise.
"Ears, Takahiro." Renji said, smiling a little as the boy had to consciously think about removing his fox ears. "Better."
What they didn't know was that Kana had heard and seen everything.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Please, you have to do something. He's been tricked by a demon!" Kana begged the leader of their village, a soft, almost feminine man with dark hair highlighted in blue.
"What am I supposed to do?" He asked her quietly. "You said that he has chosen this, correct? And the child is a halfling? What if he retaliates?"
"It's a child, he wouldn't know unless he's told." The leader's right hand man said.
"Kill them both!" Kana said. "They're both demons! They've both tricked my brother, and I won't stand for it!" She cried, turning on her heal and marched out of the dwelling.
"This is getting interesting, isn't it?" The leader said, smiling a little. "You know what to do, Genichiro." The other man nodded, preparing for a venture into the woods that night, but not before taking care of one other problem that wasn't at the other man's behest.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The dead stillness of the night was broken only by a few shuffling footsteps that could only be heard if you were listening for them. How ironic that a blade that you made is going to destroy your demon family... Genichirou thought as he drew his blade to slay the half-fox as he slept.
"What are you doing?" Asked Renji, a knife at the other man's throat. "Put the sword away and I won't kill you."
Genichiro put the sword away slowly, and Renji removed his knife from his throat. "Why?"
"He doesn't deserve to die. If you want to kill someone, kill me. I didn't know what she was when it happened. And he's more human than kitsune at this point. He only knows he can change form, and he's not very good at it. If he stays with us humans, he will forget even that at some point." Renji said.
"Even more reason for them to be slain." Genichiro turned on his heel. "I'll spare him for now. However, it has been decreed that the vixen be slain, and I plan on coming back with a new fur coat." With that he marched out of the dwelling and headed into the forest.
Renji mouthed a name that was known only to himself. He knelt down beside Takahiro. "We have to go." He said, picking up the boy in his arms.
"Father?" The boy said sleepily.
"Shh." Renji said, smiling sadly. "I'll tell you why later." He said, stealing out into the night.
Renji ran with his son his arms for what seemed like ages. He sat down on a fallen tree. "You're safe?" He inquired into the thin air.
"I am." A voice answered, and Renji felt the dog-like muzzle of his lover resting on his shoulder. "You shouldn't have to run from them because of me."
"Takahiro is in danger, as are you. I should protect you both."
"You may create swords, but can you use one?" She said quietly.
"I don't need a sword to protect my family." Renji said just as quietly, standing up to continue the journey.
"I can't go much further, but I will go as far as I can." She promised, standing as well. Renji nodded, picking up the boy again. They were far from the village now, and hopefully far from the hunter. The female stumbled at one point. "I...I can't go any further." She said, looking around frantically, noticing a cave and heading into it. It would have to do.
Renji watched her. "Where...why?" He called. Takahiro awoke, watching this.
"Mother?" He asked, somehow knowing it was her. Takahiro transformed into his own fox form and followed her, running back to his father's arms very quickly. Renji cradled the young fox spirit, suddenly knowing why his lover couldn't go on.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He said softly. "Even more reason for me to protect you."
"I didn't need help the first time." She said stubbornly "I certainly don't need it now."
"You need it more than ever!" Renji declared. "You're being hunted because you bore me children! They want me to go on alone, and I'm not going to allow that. I love you." He said, his voice coming out in a choked whisper. "Even if we have to start our own village, away from everyone else."
"What about your sister?" The fox asked, trying to hide her obvious pain.
"I somehow think she's behind this." Renji said, frowning. "Her and Seiichi." He muttered. "Takahiro, stay with your mother. I have something I must take care of." He said, picking up his knife, knowing this time, they had to die.
"Renji!" The female spirit called out, the last syllable drowning into a howl of pain.
"Take care of your mother if I don't come back." Renji said, taking a look at the young man. "Whatever you do, you'll become a fine adult." He said, knowing quite well he may never come back.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The tracks faded, and eventually turned into nothing. Those damned demons! Covering their tracks with their magic. Genichiro snarled, cursing the demons that done something to one of his best friends. It was odd enough that Renji had returned one day with a child, never mind that he wouldn't say where the child had came from. From that day on everyone had thought the worst. From the rumors that the child was born of a prostitute in another village, everyone had thought the worst of Renji. They at least gave him credit for trying to do the right thing, but the right thing would have been to make the poor girl his wife.
And then Kana had came to them with the truth.
Genichiro was about ready to give up when he heard the footsteps. Crouching, ready to draw his katana if it turned out to be one of them - or anything else dangerous, he moved quietly towards the noise.
Renji stepped in front of him. "I don't want to do this, Genichirou. Just leave us be." Renji pleaded quietly.
"They're a menace."
"They're my family." Renji said, his fingers twitching on the hilt of the knife.
"That's not a family." The larger man said, drawing his sword and advancing towards Renji. Renji neatly stepped out of the way of the oncoming blade, circling around him.
"They are to me. And if I have to die to protect them, I will." Renji snarled. He was on edge, and this wasn't helping. Renji could feel his muscles tensing, and a battle aura surrounding him. He had never been in a fight this dangerous before. A faint glow started surrounding the man, features changing.
"You're...you're one of them!" Genichiro growled, redoubling his efforts as the now half-fox like Renji continued to evade him.
"You're not welcome here! Go back, and leave us! The blessing placed on your village is no more. Your rice paddies shall dry out and your children's children will be barren!" The newly formed fox spirit decreed. "Now return to that man and relay that to him! The kitsune will no longer offer their protection to him, his offspring, or any of the ones that look to him for protection."
It was one of the few times that Genichirou had actually feared for his life and ran from the fight.
Satisfied that they would be safe for the moment, Renji returned to the den his lover had picked out to give birth to their second child. The newborn kit was suckling contentedly when he returned. The female looked up at the man that had fathered her children, surprised. Before her was not the human that she had thought was the father of her children, but rather another of her own kind, in a half-human, half-fox form. Fox ears and more tails than even she had were growing out of the still mostly human body.
"My princess." He said quietly, kneeling before her.
"You're not human. That means...they're..."
"They are completely of kitsune blood." He reassured her. "Those humans are fools. My mother did die in childbirth. My 'sister' is their fully human child. My father was not the same as hers. He was a male kitsune that tricked her into thinking that he was her mate. It's been 20 long years since I've been able to do this - since I've known who I really was." Renji said quietly. "My soul is much older than that. And now, my princess, I have something to do, but I promise I will return to you, and our children." He said, nuzzling her. "Just stay safe." Renji said, finishing the transformation into a fox and ran back towards the village.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"We really aren't going to have enough food to last through the winter." Kana said as her and some of the other village women were preserving some of the food for the winter. The summer had been drier than usual, and there wasn't much that would grow nearby. And she hadn't seen her brother in years. Not since...
Kana thought about it. These hard times started after Renji had disappeared. It was almost like the events had a connection. Had he known somehow that the drought was coming? He couldn't have. And their smaller livestock have been disappearing. It was strange, and no one had any answers.
Kana made sure her children were safe in bed, then stood outside the dwelling - the same one where her father and brother had made tools and weapons for years, the forge silent.
"Renji...what happened to you?" She whispered into the night, hoping that this night, he would return. And he did, in a way.
"Kana, this is important. The village is going to burn. If you don't wish to suffer as well, you and your children should leave. Though I'm of the opinion that the one should be left behind, you and your children are still my family, even if I know you cheated on your own mate.
"If you want to be safe, follow the golden fox that lies in just beyond the border of forest village, and he will lead you to safety. If you feel loyal to them, however...I can't stop you. The kitsune will welcome you into their clan." Renji said quietly in Kana's dream. "Know I love you, even if I can't be with you any longer. I never was what you thought I was, dear sister."
Kana sat up, gasping a little. "Renji...What...how..." She said, confused. Kana shook her head to clear it. "Just a dream. I miss him so much I dreamed about him." She said quietly. "That warning though..." She thought about it, then decided it wasn't worth heeding. "It was just a dream."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It started simply, smoke rising from small building, flames barely eating at it. The flames got stronger as no one noticed the original spark that started it. Renji sat at the edge of the forest, smiling at his work, hoping that Kana and her children would follow the warning in the dream he sent her.
The villagers finally awoke to the smell of smoke and the flames engulfing their homes, taking with it their food stores and their means of living. Mass panic engulfed most of them, a few finally calming down enough to think to start bringing water in, but it was too late.
Renji stalked around the forest, circling the village, watching for any sign of Kana and her children. "Stupid woman." He muttered under his breath. She was part of his human family, but it showed that she was just another stupid human just like the rest of them. The fox crouched down on its haunches, watching closely, ready to bolt at any moment when his eyes met those of one of the humans. Him. The hunter.
Renji ran off as fast as he possibly could, his four legged form much faster than the two legs of a human. That didn't stop the human from chasing him though. Renji ran in the opposite direction of where he had left his kitsune family. There was no sense in putting them in danger - especially not with a newborn. They needed to be safe. Renji stopped once he got a to clearing.
"Mutt! It was you, wasn't it?" Sanada growled out, drawing his sword.
"You should have stayed and died with the rest of them!" Renji growled back, jumping out of the way of the sword's arc. "Your 'honorable' leader isn't so damned honorable." He spit, tackling the swordsman, claws digging into the man's chest, sharp teeth just centimeters away from his neck. "He ordered you to hunt her down, didn't he?" Renji's muzzle got closer and closer. "He only did it so he could sneak away to be with his secret lover." Renji's teeth finally sank in through the skin in Sanada's neck.
"Mutt..." He breathed out, his arm trying to bring the katana around. Renji's forepaw stepped on the arm, preventing it from moving.
"You're just another stupid human." Renji said, looking in the man's eyes. "I may have thought of you as a friend, but now you are nothing more than my enemy. Sayonara, Genichiro." Renji said, closing his eyes and biting down into the man's neck again.
Before Renji could clench his jaw any further and finish his former friend off, there was a projectile that grazed past his ear. Jumping off the almost dead samurai, Renji bolted, not about to wait to find out who had thrown it.
"Renji." A soft voice called out. Renji bristled and stopped, turning around at the voice. It was too familiar to him. It was a voice that familiar and one he would have not listened to except for the fact that it was ingrained into every fiber of his being to do so.
The person seemed to be not of this world. The smoke from the village fire was setting down around them, and it outlined his silhouette in a very ethereal way. The loosely tied yukata hung just off the man's narrow shoulders, partially baring his chest. "Stand up, Genichiro." He ordered, looking at his second in command. Sanada did so, using his katana to help him keep his balance as he stood.
Renji stood, tensed for battle yet, growling low in his throat. "Is this the way you repay the kindness shown to you? Your human family cared about you, didn't they? We gave you a place in this village, shelter for years, and you destroy everything you've ever known, just for the sake of an animal?" Yukimura asked quietly.
Renji snarled. "My mate...the mother of my children. She is not an animal!" He cried out angrily, launching himself towards but stopping short when Sanada's blade was drawn at him again. "I warned you! You ostracized us once you knew Takahiro was one of us." Renji took another step forward, despite the blade. "And Kana! How could you do that when you knew she was another's mate." He hissed at Yukimura, who jumped in surprise, then started laughing.
"I didn't think that would happen." He chuckled. "I needed an heir anyway. Besides, you hadn't figured it out by now that she's the town whore? It was her that sold her body in exchange for both you and her to live. You didn't think your swords were going to keep you afloat." Yukimura strode right up to Renji, taking the fox's muzzle in his hand. "I just happened to be her best customer. I was making sure she could care for her children, but even they don't have a future now thanks to you." He spit in the fox's eye. "Have any thing to say for yourself?"
Renji winced, shaking the saliva out of his eye, growling. "I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. If anyone but us knew the real you, no one would be willing to even trust you. I just did everyone a favor." Renji had a steely look in his eyes, glued to the small man's neck. "Do you want to die too, Seiichi?" And in the blink of an eye Renji had suddenly moved from where he had been to having knocked over the blue haired one, claws and fangs near his neck. "Do you?"
"I'm not afraid of dying."
Teeth sunk in, puncturing arteries and veins, the blood staining the frosted ground. There were no cries or howls, just a quiet acceptance of what was. The only sound was of Sanada's scream of "Yukimura!" as the bones snapped and the red substance of life drained away.
"And you, Genichiro?" Renji turned to the last remaining man.
"I have nothing to live for now." He said quietly, pulling his sword up to a position in which he could use it against himself. Renji jumped and kicked the blade from the man's hands using his paws.
"Join me. Rebuild your life into something much more honorable. Help prove that our kind can live in peace."
"I'm old. I devoted my life to him. Joining you would be betraying everything I ever stood for. I'd rather die before joining up with a beast like you."
Renji stalked away. "I gave you a choice in the end. I'm disappointed that you won't do the honorable thing. I thought I knew you better than that." The fox like creature disappeared into the fog of the now morning hours.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Five years later, the kitsune children were growing wise and strong, along with humans who knew what they were and accepted them. The kitsune didn't have to hide by pretending to be human, and only did so if they were asked to. Everyone was equal, and the young children liked playing with each other.
The village was very content with how things were going. It was one fall morning when she walked into the village, three little ones clinging to her, and a pre-teen walking with her. Renji was surprised, the scent was rather familiar to him. He changed into his human form, and ran out. He paused. "Kana..." He breathed out. The woman looked at him, and stumbled towards him.
"Renji...why?" She asked, grabbing him around the waist, more to hold herself up.
"I could ask much the same of you." He said quietly, just holding the woman that was born to his human parents before him. "They all have different fathers, don't they?" He asked quietly, knowing just from the smell of the young ones that it was true.
Kana just nodded. "Two of them actually do have the same father. The other two don't. They share nothing except my own blood." She said quietly, then looked up into Renji's eyes. "The night of the fire...we knew Yukimura wouldn't come back. Sanada did. He took care of us. I...I was afraid of you - what you were. But...he's..." Kana just broke down, crying.
Renji looked away as Kana dampened his clothes with tears. "I killed him." He admitted, glancing at the oldest child. "I...I had to. But I let Genichiro live. I had to do that as well."
"He's dead now too." Kana sniffled, pulling away. "He told us about what you wanted. I'm sorry. I truly am." Kana bowed. "If you can forgive me, forgive my ways, and forgive my children for their fathers' sins, please allow us to remain with you here."
"Kana...I understand. You're forgiven. As for your children, they won't be blamed for anything their fathers did. You are more than welcome here." Renji said, as his kitsune daughter came up behind him. "Nozomi, say hello to your aunt." Renji said gently.
Kana smiled, overwhelmed that the kitsune who had barely lived as a human could be so forgiving towards her and her former lovers. "Thank you." She whispered.
"It's what your family is for." Renji said quietly.