Chapter 79: Chapter 76
I hummed lightly as I walked towards the estate that Yasaka lived. Her daughter still grabbing onto my tightly, refusing to budge.
Her tails swayed gently, and I could feel the vibrations of content, certain sounds that I assumed were because of her being a kitsune. If she were some species of 'cat' I would assume it was a purr. Even her ears would twitch every so often.
So cute, I just wanted to rub those little furry appendages.
Really, the only thing stopping me was that I didn't know if that would be considered 'intimate' or not. If it was something meant only for family or lovers, I wouldn't want to start touching tails and ears.
As I got close to the compound, the large Japanese-style mansion, I felt something suddenly lock onto me. A powerful pair of eyes practically pierced through the building and refused to leave me.
Killing intent oozed out and I felt whatever it was start moving at me with blinding speed.
A very distraught 9-tailed fox practically burst out the front gates, flanked by dozens of guards. All of which appeared to be Youkai, but the vast majority looked to be Tengu by the wings from their backs.
Weapons were drawn, spells were ready, they were a moments away from initiating battle.
Hello awkward silence.
"I think this belongs to you?" I gestured at the little girl still held in my arms.
I think the guard at the front was about to speak, but Yasaka was already infront of me, grabbing her daughter from my arms.
"Nooooo Daddy!" The little kitsune whined even as Yasaka pulled her away. But that didn't stop her from giving me a very intense gaze.
I held my hands up as if to say I'm innocent.
She just ignored me for now, content to worry over her daughter. I saw her cast many spells in that moment, checking on her health and what-not, but she should be perfectly fine.
"My baby girl, mommy is so sorry." Yasaka whispered to the still unconscious kitsune, hugging her tight."
I couldn't even get annoyed at the glares I was receiving from this woman.....I really have a soft spot for mothers.
It took a few more moments before Yasaka calmed down. "I have questions." Her gaze landed on me again.
"I expected as much." I said, I mean, I knew this was coming. And I didn't exactly want to get on the bad side of the ruling powers here since I kind of – you know – live here.
"Escort him to the main hall, I will be taking my daughter to the healers." Yasaka gave out commands as I was suddenly flanked by several Tengu.
Not that I was taken by surprise or anything, but I admired the speed at which they moved. Then again, Tengu are known for being rather fast.
It was another awkward silence, I didn't even try to start a conversation or anything, these guys still seemed very on edge. And I couldn't really blame them for that, just looking around, this place looked like it had been a warzone....which it probably was.
Literally parts of the building were collapsed, the inner courtyard was completely destroyed, and I think I saw bodies still being cleaned up.
Even as we entered the hall, the place where they greeted guests, the guards merely took positions off to the side as I sat in the center, waiting for something to happen.
Yasaka came barging in almost an hour later, barely sparing me a glance as she took up her seat on an elevated little platform, overlooking the area.
I could tell she was still antsy, most likely still worried about her daughter. I can only assume the fact that nothing was wrong with her is what was keeping her from staying at her side. I mean, I wasn't exactly someone she could ignore at the moment. I brought her daughter back, and she had to get to the bottom of that.
"How did you come across my daughter?" Yasaka's authoritative voice filled the hall.
"A friend found her, and asked for my aid in healing her." I replied.
"Who?"
"She didn't wish to give her name."
Yeah, Izzy didn't want make herself known here. And I didn't mind taking the heat like this for her.
Yasaka just narrowed her eyes at me. "Explain from the beginning."
I just sighed. "My friend discovered that some people were going to sacrifice your daugt—"
Yasaka growled, the floor cracked and the building shook at her immediate rage. "Sacrifice my daughter?" Her voice was deceptively calm.
"They needed a similar body to resurrect Tamamo-no-Mae, to pull her soul from Yomi, then use your daughter's body as material for a new one to be crafted to house the deceased's soul. The ritual had already been underway, a hole into Yomi forced open when my friend interfered, stopping it."
She sucked in a deep breath, reining in her temper. She turned to the side, snapping her fingers and a guard popped down from the ceiling. "Do we still have those prisoners we captured a few days ago?"
"Yes, Lady Yasaka." The guard bowed.
"Good, I will be having words with them later." Her icy tone dropped the temperature in the entire room. Her gaze once again turned to me. "You said she was involved in a ritual that connected to Yomi, were there no other issues?"
"I had to seek out someone specifically to heal her.....it's why it took so long to get her back to you."
"I see." Her face betrayed nothing as she swept her gaze around the room. "Leave us, I would speak with him in private."
One of the guards stepped forward. "But Lady Yasaka w –"
"If he wished to harm me, he merely had to kill my daughter. Now leave us." She commanded.
They all bowed and disappeared from the room. A couple of them I had to especially pay attention to notice their presence were now gone.
She stood up, walking towards me. I was about to speak until she suddenly enveloped me with her body, my head getting smooshed into her rather large chest. "Thank you." I could hear the pained way her voice carried. "ThankyouThankyouThankyouThankyou." She kept repeating "I thought I lost my Kunou forever."
I couldn't even appreciate my current situation. If it were any other time....I would have most certainly reacted differently. I don't think 'voluputous' was even enough to describe this woman. But seeing the tears literally falling down her face... "You're a good mother." I just awkwardly pat her back.
She let out a self-depreciative laugh, pulling herself back as she wiped away the tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry." She finally straightened herself out. "To see me like this...."
"It's understandable." I smiled lightly. "You were worried for your daughter."
She regained her composure after a few more moments and gave a small smile, looking over me again. "You look familiar..." She tilted her head curiously.
"Perhaps I have one of those faces?"
"No." She furrowed her brow. "I feel like I've seen you befo –" Her eyes widened slightly. "I see, it seems I will have to speak with Serafall again." Her smile turned into a scowl.
Serafall, as in Serafall Leviathan, one of four Satans that rule over the devils and the one who deals with foreign affairs. I scrunched my eyebrows, a small amount of annoyance on my face. "I'm not a part of the devil faction."
She looked at me for a moment before realization dawned on her. "Well, that makes matters simple then." She seemed happy once again. "Regardless, you saved my daughter, I am in your debt."
"What actually happened, if you don't mind me asking?"
She frowned slightly. "We thought we dealt with those disgusting things, that damn cult." She hissed. "We thought we stopped their plans, then some idiots decided it was a good idea to use the chaos to try and usurp my position. While we were weeding out all the traitors, they contacted the remnants of the cult and worked together to distract us long enough for my Kunou to be kidnapped."
I see, if my history of this place was correct, Tamamo-no-Mae should have been more than enough to contend with Yasaka if she were revived. Were the ones plotting rebellion just hoping that they would take each other out or weaken each other enough that they could finish off any winner?
What a shitshow.
"Your help was appreciated as well." She commented. "I intended to reach out at some point..." She trailed off and I knew she was understandably distracted by other events.
Mmm, yeah It isn't surprising that she knew that I stepped in and dealt with some of those idiots causing issues.
Well, I didn't really have any other questions.....except. "Why did Kunou keep calling me 'daddy'?"
Yasaka let out a small laugh, covering her face with her sleeve. "Her father...passed away when she was young. Perhaps one of her only memories was when she was small and was having nightmares. Her father would always come running in when she woke up in the middle of the night and she would always latch onto him, not allowing him to leave."
I see..i guess it dredged up those old memories and she reacted out of instinct.
She hummed to herself. "Do you dislike her calling you that?" She smiled at me. "I do need to reward you, how about I make it official~?" She bounced her chest, looking at me slyly.
"You're teasing me." I didn't react. Nice try, I survived Scathach.
"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not." She laughed. "How about it? All you need to do is ask, I am at your mercy, you saved my daughter."
"Mhmm." I hummed noncommittedly.
"Oh, you're no fun." She huffed.
Was this how she coped with the stress, or was it merely in her nature as a fox? The offer was...tempting, but well....maybe if this was back before I went to the Land of Shadows I would have said 'yes' without hesitation.
I think I learned my lesson with Meridia, even if that worked out well.
It would just complicate things in my life and there are no true feelings there beyond physical attraction.
"Well, a debt owed by the West Youkai leader, I think I'll just keep it in my pocket for now." I stated.
"Fine, fine, be that way." She pursed her lips. "Are you really not going to tell me who else saved my daughter?"
I sighed, rubbed my temple. "It's...complicated." I ran a hand through my hair. "She doesn't want to cause any issues and she doesn't exactly have the best reputation."
"Do I seem like someone who would bare ill will towards someone who saved my daughter?"
"Izanami." I said bluntly and her eyes widened, and she almost fell back where she was sitting. She opened her mouth several times, but no words came out. "Do you see how it could be perceived if she publicly revealed herself?"
"Are you sure....." She stopped herself. "Friends....." She paused again. "Izanami really saved my daughter?"
"Yes, to all of those." I gave a small smile. "She also didn't want a potentially fight with her daughter, your patron."
"Yes.....I can see how an issue may arise there." She furrowed her brow. "I don't care. Please pass on my words next you see Lady Izanami, she is always welcome in my home and I would be more than willing to thank her in person." Yasaka snorted, a small frown on her face. "I beseeched my 'patron' for aid, days ago, and I was refused. Yet, the most unlikely goddess is the one who answered my prayers. You said there was a third person, a healer you sought out?"
"Yeah, Izanami couldn't do much because of the deathly energies that were inside Kunou, her being a resident of Yomi herself.....so I brought in someone else who cleansed and healed her."
"I see....and would it be possible for me to express my thanks to this person as well?"
"I can bring her around at some point, I think. She is...not a goddess or anything like that, but she doesn't want to reveal her identity publicly. A certain clan in the west, one that is connected to a particular set of holy swords might be a bother."
"Holy sword..." She looked thoughtful for a moment before realization dawned on her. "I see, and I would like to say regardless of how powerful that particular clan is, they would not be able to act up in my territory as they please."
Well, that's a relief. I mean, I'm not scared of them or anything, but an annoyance is an annoyance. Rather just not have to deal with them at all. Yeah, the Pendragon family is particularly powerful for a human 'clan'. Enough that their names are still known world-wide and the Church doesn't just take all their 'holy weapons' for themselves.
I couldn't help but let out a long breath. I just keep getting mixed up in more and more nonsense, I should probably distance myself from this whole thing. "Well, that should be everything? Unless you have other questions for me?"
"Hmm, I have a general idea of what happened, and my Kunou is back, perfectly safe and healthy." She smiled towards me again. "Are you sure you don't want a reward~?"
This woman is dangerous.
***
Sorry for missing yesterday, had something for lunch that just did not sit well and I was hovering my toilet after I got off from work. I'll see about doing another chapter this weekend. On a side note, Zhongli in 30 wishes, Come @ me.
So MC's first meeting with momma fox. So I had it pointed out to me that I was meandering too much on the 'vacation' aspect of this arc, so I decided to move time tables up and finish this first DxD trip a bit earlier than I initially intended. Probably in 2-4 chapters, over on my pat re on. Then it's back on the grind for the next world.
Anyways, if you want to read 5 chapters ahead or support me, visit my pat.reon.com/Astoryforone
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