Koga's flashback (part 1)

"He's been like this for a day now, I am unsure what to do. I saw the model messaging him. I took the liberty to reply, saying he left the town for a funeral."

Maki slid the door to his room, while Yoshio stood outside, waiting.

"Was the model suspecting anything?"

"No, he played it cool. Also, I got a phone call about the magazine spread photoshoot, and it might be with him. I will go today around four, and I need you to stay with Koga if he's still unconscious, until the sunset..."

"Sure, don't worry about it. I won't make any plans for this time." Yoshio smiled slightly.

"Yoshio-san, thank you! I will try to observe the guy. I mean we fought before, so maybe he will talk."

"Be careful, remember he is strong, and all those weapons too."

"I know... I will. Now, I will take a new towel, to wash him off." Maki sized Yoshio up, noticing new "modern" attire. "You're going out?"

"Mn. I am still seeing Kinu. I will be back before four, don't worry."

They turned towards the bathroom. Maki hesitantly glanced back again.

"M-, Yoshio-san, are you sure she is not with them?"

"I think. She doesn't seem to be a yokai, nor does she behave strangely in any way. It's just I feel like I want to know her better. She makes me feel so safe, for whatever reason, I never thought I needed to feel that way... I can't explain it."

"I see. I am just urging you to be careful, as she appeared in a weird time."

As if in a dream, Yoshi said, "I feel like I can trust her."

Maki nodded, maybe because he was in love too, "I can understand. It's sad for Sora, I guess."

Yoshi looked at him rapidly, "What do you mean, what's with her?"

"What I mean is that she clearly liked you. And it seems... well, it's life. Maybe you should be open about your options, given you have never shown interest in anyone before..."

Yoshi stopped. "I think I will leave now."

"Sure, I will be here when you return." Maki nodded, missing how embarrassed Yoshi was. When he raised his head again, he was gone. Maki felt as if he might have said something inappropriate. He shrugged his shoulders - there was no time to think about it. So he washed the towel, took the small basin with water, and returned to his room.

Koga was on his bed, frowning slightly as if having a nightmare. Maki gently wiped off the sweat from Koga's face, sighing. He then wiped down his hands and his back. When Koga failed to wake up yesterday evening, Maki realized that it might take longer than expected. He undressed Koga carefully trying to avoid staring, and put a white robe on him to make it easier for himself to wash him in the future.

Koga's ears were now always turned down, like a kitten's, which looked sad, but also cute. Maki put him back on the bed and tucked him under the light blanket. He realized he hadn't had anything to eat that day. Looking for the last time at the sleeping fox, he teleported into the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Koga was clearly seeing something. When he fainted, he didn't realize that what he was seeing was a vision, but he felt as if it was him there. He forgot about who he was before, fully immersed in the process. He knew he was the leader of the kitsune pack, images of him during various fights emerging in front of his eyes. He was a fierce fighter and protector of his tribe, his silver blade killing many enemies who dared to approach their village. He was prideful and strong, never defeated, sure that his decisions were just. He looked into the bronze mirror, with no smile on his face: a straight profile and nine white tails beautifully unraveled behind him. His ginger hair was long, and collected in the ponytail, with a jade crown. He looked back again, raising his chin, thinking he wasn't looking bad at all.

"Leader, Leader!" A young fox ran inside.

Slowly turning his head the leader replied in a reserved manner, "What?"

"Leader Takeshi, I apologize for such a rush interruption, there is..." he lowered his voice, "a human next to the village gates."

"What?!" Takeshi's ears twitched. He stood up sharply, taking his blade in his hand, leaving.

Little fox followed, "Please, Lord Takeshi, don't be angry, he claims to be of those who mean no harm!"

"I shall see that with my own eyes. Where have you seen a human who meant no harm?"

They walked to the gate. Some fox heads were popping here and there, curious to see what was going to happen. There was no need to be worried, as their leader was so strong and never let them be harmed by anyone for many decades now. Before he opened the gate he stopped and adjusted his clothes. He wore an expansive silk gown, decorated with gold embroidery. Takeshi liked his expensive gowns, so he wanted to make an impression on the human. He kicked the gate open.

There stood a man, wearing grey linen clothes. He didn't have much money, clearly. His skin was tanned from all the traveling, Takeshi sized him from head to toe, unimpressed. When his gaze reached the face he paused. The young man was looking openly back at him. His face was long, as was his nose, and his lips were slim, yet all of that seemed to work perfectly on that face. His long brown hair was tied in a sort of a knot. All of his features seemed pleasant to the eye, even though the foxes all around him were some of the most beautiful creatures out there. Takeshi cleared his throat, frowning, playing a threatening yokai.

"Who are you, and what do you think you are doing here, human?"

The human bowed politely, and without raising his head calmly said: "Leader, my name is Tachi Akio, I am a traveling scholar." He heard Takeshi make a judgmental "khm" sound when he heard his name, he ignored it, continuing politely, "I am interested in various yokai. I wish to create a book depicting the life of all of the yokai I can. I have been told by the leader Suragami of your location, which I hope proves that I am trustworthy. I am only hoping to stay for some time and be able to observe the way your tribe lives. If you deem this too impertinent, I will take my leave immediately, however," He raised his head, "I have heard that this tribe has a great leader, some fear him, and some wish to become him. I only want to show the rest of the world the greatness of the kitsune tribe, their strength, and their power."

Takeshi looked down at him, contemplating. For some reason, the words of the traveler made him want the human world to know about them, and about him, because indeed - they were great, and he was an impressive leader.

"Rise up, human. I shall agree to your request on one condition."

"Yes, my lord." Aki looked at him, still as calm as water.

"You shall tell me the tales about the human world, and how you managed to sway that old bastard Suragami."

"Of course Leader, I will do as you want." He bowed in gratitude.

Takeshi turned his head to the fox who seemed to appear out of nowhere, "Jiro, let him stay in my house. He shall take the room next to the study. Show him around."

Seeing Jiro nod in agreement, Takeshi vanished, leaving the startled human behind. Seeing that the leader was gone Aki felt relieved. He relaxed, approaching Jiro.

"Hi! Please call me Aki. Your leader is as fierce, as much as I have heard, yet he agreed to let me in. I am grateful, and I will follow your command."

Jiro only looked at him, reserved, "Listen, human, I will show you around, please respect the others, don't do anything to upset the Leader, as he is very sensitive. He let you live with him out of his generous heart. Please remember that. Don't try clinging to him."

"I won't." Aki waved his hands.

"Good, then follow me."

The village of the foxes looked not much different from any human village, Aki thought. He wasn't expecting something extraordinary per se. In the evening, after he walked all around, and talked to some kids, and some little foxes who were not yet able to turn human. He felt exhausted but fulfilled. This seemed to be one of the easiest yokai he has encountered so far, the foxes were eager to watch him and to talk to him. In the human realm, the foxes seldom appeared, so only the great kitsune leader was known from children's fairytales.

In the meantime Takeshi looked at his books, bored, waiting for the traveler to return home. He secretly observed the human walking all over his village due to the lack of trust, however, as the day turned to night it was clear that there were no malicious intentions. The human looked sincerely interested in hearing stories of his people, writing down some notes along the way. And there were no uncomfortable or provocative questions, at least not ones he asked the common yokai.

The moment he heard Jiro leaving, Tekashi peeked out, and after adjusting his robe (he had changed for the evening, and now wore another generously embellished emerald robe). Takashi entered the study, after noticing that Aki sat there. He was writing something down in the neat notebook under the slim light of a candle.

"Traveller, you are here, why not go to your room? There is also a table available for you."

Aki turned to him, "Leader, I am sorry for the intrusion, I just felt more comfortable with books around me."

"You should call me Leader Takeshi from now on."

"Of course, Leader Takeshi. May I know your last name?"

"We don't have these in my tribe," he said pridefully, "we are all one family here."

Aki politely nodded and made a mark in his notebook about it.

"Listen, human, when shall you entertain me with the tales of the outside world?" Takeshi leaned onto the table, looking into the papers with notes.

"I can whenever you wish to listen." Aki turned his gaze up to look into Takeshi's eyes.

The last phrase seemed ambiguously said in Takeshi's view. He frowned, narrowing his eyes in suspicion, "I will ask you first, for how long do you intend to stay?"

The other seemed unbothered by Takeshi's menacing appearance, "I am not sure, it will depend on how fast I conclude my studies. I plan to speak with more villagers, and with their Leader, of course, I want to make some drawings, and..."

"Will you make a drawing of me?" Takeshi straightened.

Hesitantly, Aki replied, "Yes, if Leader Takeshi allows me to."

"Then it's settled, and all the information you collect shall pass by me. I have to approve anything you dare to write about my tribe, otherwise you can never leave. I will decide on the date when you paint me later."

"Of course. Some other yokai also approved the texts, so there is no issue with that."

"I see. Now you shall begin with entertainment. Dine with me, and while we eat you shall tell me about your travels."

"Yes." Aki stood up, unexpectedly tumbling over, and falling into Fox's arms.

Takeshi felt that the time had stopped. He held this weak human in his embrace. He looked down on him, uncertain what he should do in this situation. His heart started beating faster. This human, he thought, what was there about him that piqued his interest? He despised humans since they were so weak, and yet, here was one in his arms, looking so painfully fragile.

Aki came to his senses first, flustered.

"Lord Takeshi, I hope you will forgive me, I have no idea how it happened," he stepped back, red from head to toe.

Takeshi looked at the sight of a serious minute ago scholar - turned shy and disheveled. He chuckled. After hearing that Aki's eyes turned into two big lakes.

"L-Leader Takeshi, I hope you won't kill me because of this..."

"You are a strange human indeed," Takeshi tilted his head, his eyes full of interest, a sincere smile on his face. "Let's eat!"