Chapter 50

Among all the whiplash that Kaede had experienced since the morning chime, by far the appearance of an actual humanoid fox seemed the most surreal.

Sure, she had spent time with the shadow given corporeal form in the Hound; had no less than three prophetic visions with the sealed princess of the moon; had a tiny girl tell her that she had seen all the possible predetermined paths her life could take; and even had one member of the Divine Trio appear on the island and claim to have killed another over the past few cycles.

Yet, for some reason, all of that paled in comparison to the existence of some human-fox hybrid masquerading as a priestess.

“What’s wrong, Kaede-chan?” Inari smirked, looking up at the oiran. “Fox got your tongue?”

Kaede took a couple of steps back, shaking her head and Yurika, usually quick with a quip, looked just as startled.

Even the Hound, for all his usual stoicism, seemed tense as his unseen eyes beheld Inari before him.

Inari placed a hand on her hip and flicked her hair back, before turning her gaze back to the Hound. “Yes, I know. My beauty is too much to behold. I’m sure a beast…” Kaede and Yurika felt massive chills throughout their bodies, finally understanding the venom from the way the former priestess used that word. “...such as yourself cannot contain yourself at the thoughts of ravaging such a crea–”

“Silence!” The Hound bellowed, thrusting his arm to the side, causing his shroud to flare out behind him. “You dare show yourself here, thief!?”

The two girls felt equally frozen by the rage that exuded off the Hound.

“Don’t call me that, beast!” Inari snarled as she gnashed her fangs together.

Kaede and Yurika met each other’s gazes, fearing that a clash between these two mythic figures might just tear Mt. Ochiru asunder.

“You caused everything, wench. Yet you just so casually… on this island…” The Hound clenched his hands into fists, gritting his teeth. “You so carelessly have been thriving here, of all places, after the damage you caused!? The calamity you started!? Without any payment for your crimes!?”

Inari’s left hand came up, touching the bell on her neck. “I’ve paid more than you know…” She muttered and Kaede noticed a twinge of melancholy on the fox’s face.

Then, just as suddenly, a crazed look crossed her amber eyes as she flailed her left hand to the side. “But yes! None of it is enough, for the suffering caused by the “great” people of the moon capital! Those accursed royals of Canaan can rot in hell for all I care.” The amount of venom from Inari seemed to engulf the four standing on the mountain path, before her face split into a smirk.

“Though I guess allowing the princess to have a front row seat to the calamity might be even better! Wouldn’t you say, Cana!?”

The Hound suddenly snapped, having remained locked in place while the fox stayed in place. He kicked off the ground, lunging forward, his fist raised, only an angry growl emanating from him.

Inari, still smirking, raised her right hand up. “A beast always acts on instinct…” She muttered before snapping her fingers.

Kaede, Yurika, the lunging Hound and the former priestess all instantly disappeared from the slope…

…before appearing in the shinkan of the Secluded Shrine.

Except, it was different.

The shoji of the backside of the room were completely removed.

Not even like they had been pulled down but had never existed in the first place.

In place, was a large gaping hold surrounded by purple and pink shimmering stars and what appeared to be a dark void, swirling in the distance. Vast darkness filled the space between the shimmering stars and the void, yet it was surprisingly bright.

A cold, gray stone slab extended beyond the edge of the tatami of the room, connecting seamlessly with the chaotic area beyond. Upon it, a small dais sat in the middle with an ancient mirror, missing the glass on its right half, glowing eerily in the flickering starscape that surrounded the strange room. Inari stood just on the edge where the two clashing rooms met, the Hound having been launched into the far right corner, opposite of where Kaede and Yurika now stood.

“What… what is that place?” Yurika meekly voiced the question Kaede had shared, as they both focused on the scintillating light show. The void seemed to slowly be devouring the light and, from Inari’s position relative to them, the swirling vortex appeared to be a muddled halo above the fox.

“This?” Inari said, triumphantly, a cruel smile on her lips. “This is my domain.”

Her amber eyes met Kaede’s green ones and the oiran was paralyzed with fear.

“This, my dear Kaede, is where the princess’ chosen avatar will die.”