Chapter 38: Family Cometh, Secrets Revealed

Meanwhile, Kuroyasha found himself in a place strangely similar to where Kuzuno had been taken.
Except no shikigami greeted him.
Only silence.
He slowly sat up, rubbing the back of his head as he looked around.
Darkness stretched endlessly in every direction, yet faint stars shimmered beneath his feet like reflections across black water.
"...Great," Kuroyasha muttered. "I'm inside some kind of mind space."
He narrowed his eyes.
"But whose?"
He began walking carefully through the endless void.
No wind. No sound. No presence.
Just silence.
Then-
A cold blade suddenly pressed against his throat.
"Speak carefully, human."
The voice behind him was deep, sharp, and filled with restrained violence.
"This space was created for our daughter. Explain your presence before I run my blade through your neck."
Kuroyasha froze instantly.
"...Your daughter?" he asked carefully. "Are you talking about Kuzuno?"
The blade pressed harder.
"So you have seen her."
The voice darkened.
"Where is she? If you have harmed our daughter, I swear I will-"
"Enough."
A soft yet commanding female voice echoed through the void.
The pressure at Kuroyasha's throat eased slightly.
He slowly turned his head.
A beautiful eight-tailed fox approached through the darkness.
The moment Kuroyasha saw her face, his eyes widened.
She looked almost identical to Kuzuno.
Elegant blue markings glowed softly across her body, and her silver-blue eyes radiated ancient intelligence and warmth.
Kuroyasha blinked.
"...Okay," he said slowly. "So I'm guessing you're Kuzuno's mother."
He glanced carefully behind him.
"And the angry one trying to cut my head off is probably her father."
The massive fox behind him snorted coldly.
Queen Tamamo stepped closer to Kuroyasha until she stood directly in front of him. Gently, she lifted his chin with one claw and examined his face carefully.
Then her eyes began to glow.
Kuroyasha immediately felt her presence brushing against his thoughts.
His face turned slightly red.
Damn... Kuzuno's beautiful, but now I see where she gets it from. Her mother is gorgeous too.
Tamamo smiled knowingly.
"Thank you for the compliment," she said softly. "Though I would advise against saying such things aloud."
Her tails swayed behind her.
"My husband becomes rather jealous."
Kuroyasha slowly looked behind him.
Emperor Toba stood there with a death glare so intense it could terrify armies.
"...Right," Kuroyasha muttered.
Toba finally lowered his blade and approached beside his wife.
Even standing calmly, his aura felt monstrous.
Kuroyasha could immediately tell:
This was not merely a ruler.
This was a being powerful enough to shake realms.
Kuroyasha crossed his arms.
"So... Kuzuno's parents, huh?"
His expression became serious.
"The Emperor's mana is on a completely different level than Kuzuno's."
His eyes narrowed.
"But more importantly... where exactly are we? This doesn't feel like a normal mind space."
Before Tamamo could answer, Toba's claws tightened around his sword hilt again.
"I've heard enough from this human already," the Emperor growled. "We still don't know where Kuzuno or Kayo are, and this conversation wastes valuable time."
Tamamo gently rested a claw against his shoulder.
Instantly, Toba fell silent.
Kuroyasha noticed immediately:
Tamamo was the only person in existence who could probably calm this man.
Tamamo turned back toward Kuroyasha.
"Please forgive my husband," she said gently. "Since our daughters left the Fox Realm, we have searched desperately for a way to reach them."
Sadness crossed her face.
"But Goddess Inari forbade us from interfering in the paths our daughters now walk."
Kuroyasha frowned.
"Even you can't disobey her?"
Tamamo slowly shook her head.
"Not even the rulers of the Fox Realm may defy the will of Goddess Inari."
Her gaze lowered slightly.
"So we searched through their mind spaces instead."
A shadow crossed her eyes.
"But Kayo's mind..."
Even Toba's expression darkened.
"...is twisted beyond recognition."
Silence settled briefly.
"We hoped to contact Kuzuno," Tamamo continued softly. "Instead, we found you."
She stepped closer again.
"A human inside our daughter's soul."
Tamamo gently touched Kuroyasha's forehead.
Blue light spread from her claw.
Then suddenly-
Tears filled her eyes.
Kuroyasha blinked in confusion.
Without warning, Tamamo embraced him tightly.
Even Toba's expression softened slightly.
"...What?" Kuroyasha asked.
Tamamo quickly whispered something into Toba's ear.
The Emperor stared at Kuroyasha silently for several moments before finally extending one clawed hand toward him.
"...You have my gratitude."
Kuroyasha stared at him in complete confusion before cautiously shaking his hand.
Then-
Both Emperor Toba and Queen Tamamo bowed respectfully toward him.
Kuroyasha nearly jumped backward.
"WOAH-okay, nope, this is getting weird."
Tamamo smiled through her tears.
"Please forgive us. We did not realize you were Kuzuno's chosen partner."
Kuroyasha froze.
"...Chosen partner?"
Tamamo nodded.
"That explains why you appeared here instead of Kuzuno."
Her expression became more serious.
"It also means you deserve to know the truth about the Dark Nine Tails."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Even the stars beneath their feet seemed dimmer now.
Tamamo looked directly into Kuroyasha's eyes.
"Will you listen to our story?"
Kuroyasha slowly nodded.
"...Yeah."
His expression hardened.
"I think I need to."
"I fought Kayo recently," Kuroyasha began.
Both rulers immediately focused on him.
"She attacked Kuzuno in the Demon Ogre Realm. I managed to drive her away... barely."
Toba's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You survived a battle against Kayo?"
"...Yeah."
Kuroyasha exhaled slowly.
"But honestly? If it wasn't for this fox form I awakened... I probably would've died."
Tamamo blinked.
"...Fox form?"
Kuroyasha smirked slightly.
"Guess showing you would be easier."
He closed his eyes.
Mana surged violently around him.
Three massive fox tails burst behind him as crimson energy erupted through the void.
Toba and Tamamo both stared in complete disbelief.
Tamamo whispered:
"Impossible..."
Even Toba looked stunned.
"No human should be capable of this..."
Suddenly-
Toba vanished.
CLANG!
Kuroyasha barely blocked the Emperor's blade in time.
The force behind the strike shook his entire body.
Even holding back, Toba's power felt overwhelming.
For a brief moment, it reminded him of fighting Kayo.
Then Toba smiled faintly and stepped back.
"...Interesting."
He sheathed his blade.
"You truly have become a fox."
His eyes narrowed.
"And one comparable to royal blood."
Tamamo slowly approached Kuroyasha in awe.
"But... how do you possess three tails while Kuzuno possessed none?"
Kuroyasha smiled proudly.
"Kuzuno's grown stronger."
His expression softened.
"She has three tails now too."
Tamamo covered her mouth.
Tears streamed down her face again.
"Our daughter..."
Even Toba quietly closed his eyes in relief.
But Kuroyasha's smile slowly disappeared.
"There's something else."
The atmosphere became tense again.
"When I fought Kayo... it felt like she was still holding back."
Toba and Tamamo immediately became serious.
Kuroyasha looked directly at them.
"She didn't have five tails."
Silence.
"She had seven."
The void itself seemed to freeze.
Tamamo's eyes widened in horror.
"...Seven?"
Kuroyasha nodded grimly.
"And her power matched it."
Tamamo looked toward Toba.
Both rulers immediately understood the implication.
Kuroyasha noticed the fear on their faces instantly.
"...What?" he asked quietly.
Tamamo looked back at him carefully.
"Kuroyasha... how long has Kuzuno been outside the Fox Realm?"
"...A little under a month."
Tamamo closed her eyes.
"...Then for Kuzuno and Kayo... nearly six years have already passed."
Kuroyasha's eyes widened.
"What?"
Tamamo nodded slowly.
"Time flows differently outside the Fox Realm."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"And because both daughters remain outside the realm..."
"...their ascension toward fox godhood accelerates."
Kuroyasha felt cold dread crawl down his spine.
"Kuzuno has three tails..."
Tamamo nodded weakly.
"And Kayo possesses seven."
Then realization struck Kuroyasha completely.
The next time Kayo appeared-
"...She'll be a fox god."
Toba finally spoke.
"Yes."
His voice felt heavy.
"When next you face Kayo, she will no longer be mortal."
Silence.
"The markings of godhood upon her body will confirm her ascension."
Kuroyasha clenched his fists tightly.
"And only God Magic can stop her..."
Tamamo's eyes widened slightly.
"You know of God Magic?"
"My master told me about it."
Kuroyasha's expression darkened.
"He fought it once."
Silence.
"And died just to wound the Dark Nine Tails."
Tamamo's eyes widened.
"...Your master."
She stared at him carefully.
"His name was Beniyasha... wasn't it?"
Kuroyasha froze.
"...How do you know that?"
Tamamo and Toba exchanged sorrowful looks.
Then Tamamo finally spoke.
"Kuroyasha... the Dark Nine Tails' true name is Yeounui."
A long silence followed.
"She is my older sister."
Kuroyasha's eyes widened.
"...What?"
"She is the true princess of the Zenko Royal Family."
Tamamo lowered her eyes sadly.
"And Kuzuno's aunt."
Kuroyasha exploded instantly.
"THEN WHY HASN'T THE FOX REALM STOPPED HER?!"
The void trembled around him.
"My master died fighting her!"
His voice cracked with rage.
"Kuzuno's already suffered enough!"
His fists shook violently.
"And now you're telling me she's family?!"
Tamamo remained calm.
"Kuroyasha..."
"No!"
His eyes burned with anger.
"What does any of this have to do with Beniyasha?! Why did she kill him?!"
Tamamo stepped closer gently.
"Please calm yourself."
Her voice carried deep sorrow.
"I know this is painful... but you deserve the truth."
Slowly...
Kuroyasha lowered his head.
"...I'm sorry."
He bowed respectfully.
"I shouldn't have shouted at you."
Tamamo nodded softly.
Then she finally spoke.
"As Kuzuno is bonded to you..."
"...Yeounui was once bonded to Beniyasha."
Kuroyasha's mind went completely blank.
"...What?"
Tamamo closed her eyes.
"Yeounui was not always the Dark Nine Tails."
And then-
She told him everything.
About Yeounui being beloved across the Fox Realm. About meeting Beniyasha. About their dream of peace between humans and foxes. About their powerful Fox Link.
About the world calling them:
"The Crimson Tails."
Then came the revelation that shattered everything.
Yeounui became pregnant.
The first demigod child between fox and human in thousands of years.
Kuroyasha listened silently.
Then came the Elder Gods.
The decree.
The fear of demigods.
And finally-
The order from Goddess Inari herself.
"No demigods shall be born."
Silence filled the void.
Tamamo's voice trembled now.
"When Yeounui refused..."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"She fought Goddess Inari herself."
Kuroyasha slowly looked up.
"...And lost."
Tamamo nodded weakly.
"She never stood a chance."
Her voice broke.
"When we arrived afterward..."
The Queen's body trembled.
"...Yeounui was holding her stomach and screaming."
Toba closed his eyes painfully.
"The sound of her grief..."
Tamamo wiped tears from her face.
"...I still hear it."
Silence.
"After that day..."
Tamamo's expression darkened.
"Yeounui disappeared."
"And eventually..."
"She became the Dark Nine Tails."
Kuroyasha stood there motionless.
Everything suddenly felt heavier.
His master. Yeounui. Kuzuno. Kayo.
It all connected.
Finally, Kuroyasha spoke quietly.
"So the Dark Nine Tails had a reason..."
His fists clenched.
"What happened to her was unforgivable."
Tamamo nodded sadly.
"But now..."
Kuroyasha looked up.
"Kayo's walking the same path."
Silence.
Then Kuroyasha smiled faintly despite everything.
"The odds are horrible."
Toba snorted.
"That is an understatement."
"But..." Kuroyasha continued, "...I've faced impossible odds before."
His expression hardened.
"And I'm not abandoning Kuzuno."
Tamamo stared at him silently.
Then slowly...
She smiled.
At that moment, both rulers began fading away.
Before disappearing completely, Tamamo spoke one final time.
"Please protect my daughter, Kuroyasha."
Her voice trembled softly.
"And if possible..."
Tears filled her eyes.
"...bring both my daughters home."
Kuroyasha bowed deeply.
"I will."
The void vanished.
And Kuroyasha suddenly awoke in a bed, breathing heavily.
"...Damn."
He rubbed his face slowly.
"That was... a lot."