Chapter 61

The addition of Yurika to the fight didn’t seem to hinder the enraged Inari so much as it had reinvigorated her. The memory of the island girl being the one to thrust the blade through her chest was no doubt the reason for that.

The Hound, to his credit, had been taking the brunt of the strikes. Unlike Gakuto and Yurika, he had hardly fought that day and, with the strategic use of his shroud, he was able to pull the two younger fighters out of harm’s way before closing the gap with the fox himself.

Gakuto was purely running off adrenaline at this point and Yurika was not as seasoned a warrior as either of them, to have much stamina left. Their noble efforts that day were impressive but they were both amateurs in the eyes of the Hound, and thus, easy targets for Inari.

Yurika took a kick from Inari and rolled back towards the boundary, but Gakuto stepped into her spot and thrust his dagger, glowing with flames, at the fox. She delivered a strong punch to his already wounded side and he cried out in pain before tumbling away.

Inari turned her gaze on the Hound and clenched her claws firmly, her wild gaze focused on the beast before her.

“I’ve wanted to kill you for centuries, beast.” Inari snarled, her fangs fully bared as she crouched, ready to lunge. “You ruined all of my plans and you dare to live on the same island as me!?”

The Hound disappeared into the shadows once more before appearing behind Inari, his fist raised. One of her tails constricted itself around his wrist and she turned, stabbing her claws into his shoulder. The Hound winced in pain before turning back to shadow and escaping her grasp.

“Cowardly beast!” Inari cried out, looking around the slab for the hidden Hound. “Slinking in the shadows, waiting to pounce on the unsuspecting! I don’t know how you got the Hare to calm down!”

“The Hare knows you tricked them.” The Hound’s voice echoed around Inari before he appeared in the shadow of the dais, further away from her. “He truly loved Kagura-hime. He might be broken, but that love kept him from succumbing to his own darkness.” The Hound rolled his shoulders, releasing the tension in them before his hidden gaze met Inari’s.

“Unlike us.”

“Speak for yourself!” Inari snarled, readying to pounce at the Hound.

“Inari!”

Kaede’s voice broke the staredown between the fox and the Hound, both of them turning to stare. The oiran was panting heavily as she reached into her hakamashita, pulling out the flower from the Hare.

Inari froze, her eyes widening.

“Brat, where did you get that from!?”

Kaede’s eyes were locked on Inari’s, not moving as she held the flower out. “It doesn’t matter, Inari. You like this flower, don’t you?”

The fox turned and Kaede’s gaze fell upon the pattern stitched into her kimono dress. It was identical to the flower in her grasp. Yurika and Gakuto had managed to get on their feet and step close to the oiran while Inari was paralyzed.

The Hound gazed between Kaede and Inari, his hand putting pressure on the wound from Inari’s claws. The Hare’s words came back to him:

“I think we might need these to take care of her.”

“So that’s what he meant…” The Hound muttered.

“What makes you think I care about some little flower!?” Inari snarled, flailing her arm out but refusing to move from her spot.

“It’s not just the flower.” Kaede said, taking a couple of steps towards Inari. Yurika and Gakuto both extended a hand to grab the oiran’s shoulders and she shook her head, giving them both a small smile.

“Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”

Both of them glanced at each other before reluctantly releasing their grip, Kaede taking a few more strides forward, still maintaining her distance from the fox.

“There’s the outfit you’re wearing. Honestly, it’s a very beautiful dress. I’m kind of surprised you would wear it just to face us.” Kaede smiled at Inari, the fox still stunned. “Unless, of course, you were wearing it to honor or celebrate something…

“Or, someone.”

Gakuto and Yurika looked at each other confused as Kaede spoke.

“What are you talking about?” They asked in unison and Kaede glanced back at the two of them, shaking her head again before turning back to Inari.

“I have no one waiting for me. Remember, you said that!?” Inari snarled, clenching her claws open and closed a few times.

Kaede gave Inari a melancholic smile. “No one waiting for you on this side, isn’t that right, Inari?” The oiran held up the flower again and the fox growled loudly. She still refused to move though.

“That’s a lovely necklace you have, Inari.”

Yurika, Gakuto and the Hound all narrowed their gazes, trying to see what Kaede was talking about as the fox’s demeanor changed rapidly from anger to surprise. The glass bell was shimmering in the swirling light of the starscape, and Inari went to cover it with her left hand, glaring at Kaede.

“Stop talking, girl!” Inari snarled, but it was in desperation not anger.

Kaede shook her head, holding the flower aloft and taking a couple more steps towards Inari. “Would they be proud of what you’re doing, Inari? Fighting three teenagers and the guardian in hatred? Waiting for the moon to fall?”

“Kaede-chan?”

“Kaede, what are you talking about!?”

Kaede turned towards Gakuto and Yurika, smiling brightly. “I figured it out, Gakkun, Yurika-chan!”

“Figured out what!?’ They asked in sync.

Kaede, her body still turned towards them, turned her face towards Inari, her most brilliant smile on her face. “The truth about Inari. About all of this.”

“...about the folktale!”

Gakuto and Yurika looked at each other, still confused.

“Do you still not realize it, Gakkun?” Gakuto pointed at himself, but Kaede was still looking at Inari, her gaze gentle.

“There were always multiple thieves!”

“What!?” The two behind Kaede yelled as the Hound brought up his hand to his mask, chuckling softly.

“You figured it out, eh, Kaede?”

“What is he talking about!?” The two asked in unison.

“Why would you hire a guardian specifically for a treasury inside an already well-guarded castle, unless…” Kaede stated, her eyes fixed on Inari.

“...it had already been robbed?”