Kitsune’s reveal & Stoneheart’s rage
This whole mess started when I, the lovely Jasmine, was shopping for college.
There was this lovely thrift shop that I found, it had so many cute boxes and plates and goodies, how could I resist.
I got a cute jacket, it had fox ears! I found some cups, they had pretty designs okay. I found a few cool boxes, they could be useful guys, don’t judge me. The item responsible was one of these boxes. It had dark red wood with a cool red pattern on it.
I swear that the box just appeared in front of me, it wasn’t there when I looked a minute ago.
Regardless, I bought my new stuff, for a great price, and headed home to pack it to take to college.
My room is super cute by the way, it’s painted like a field of flowers, my mom did it when I was really little and it’s super pretty.
It’s currently a bit of a mess, with books scattered all over and clothes in piles on the floor. I have two full floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and books stuffed all over my room, and it’s so difficult to pick the ones to take to college.
I may also have a habit of collecting nicknacks, so there are a lot of items for me to pick from around my room.
So I started wrapped the cups and stuffed them in the backpack, and checked each box to make sure they were empty, until suddenly the red one lit up when it was opened.
A brilliant light rose up and I stared in disbelief as a strange being appeared.
“Mm,” the creature shook its head as it stretched.
I slowly reached for a throwing knife I’d been debating on whether to take to college or not and prepared to throw it at the creature.
“Oh, Hello!” It beamed at me and I froze.
“....... AHHHHH” I threw the knife at it.
“Woah, nice throw kit,” the thing dodged neatly, “I’m Trixx,” it dodged the next knife, “the fox kwami of Spirits and Trickery.” it twirled around another knife, “It’s nice to meet you!”
“Uh... “ Now, this was a very odd situation, but let it not be said that I can’t adapt… after a brief panic, “Nice to meet you.”
The creature, a kwami it said? Beamed at her, “I like your room,” it zipped around, studying everything, “Do you have any eggs?”
“Uh, I’ll give you eggs if you tell me what you are and where you came from.”
The kwami laughed, “I already told you what I am, I’m a kwami, my name’s Trixx.” Trixx was suddenly right in front of me, “As for where I came from, I am the embodiment of Spirits and Trickery. I came from those, I am those.”
I stared, was this thing saying… was it saying it was basically a god?
“Uh…”
It laughed, “It’s okay, don’t think too hard about it. Most humans don’t get it.” Trixx turned back to studying my room, it’s white tail tipped in black twisting as they studied the room.
“Okay, why are you here then? You’re like, a god right?”
“I’m a kwami!” Trixx spun around, “And I’m here because I’ve picked you as my next guardian mademoiselle… uh, what’s your name?”
Of course this was absolutely ridiculous, a mini god just appeared in my room declaring I’m its guardian, then asks me what my name was. Brilliant, just brilliant.
“I’m Jasmine. What does being a guardian mean?”
Trixx gave a little bow, “Hello then Jasmine. Fear not, I shall explain all!” It’s stomach growled, “After I eat. So, eggs?”
I got them eggs.
After Trixx ate their eggs, they settled down on a pillow and looked at me expectantly.
“So, what’s a guardian?” I sat down across from them.
“An excellent question!” Trixx grinned and suddenly there was a figure in the room.
“AH,” I threw a knife at it, (I knew all these knives would come in handy one day), but the knife went right through the person.
Trixx cackled, “It’s just an illusion kit, my last guardian in her hero form.”
“Hero form?”
The figure had a flute held in her hand, her outfit streamlined, nothing loose except the tail and ears, faint claws glinted on her hands and white and black were the predominant colors. It wasn’t skin tight, but it was still sleek, stylish almost.
“This is what you’ll do!” Trixx flit up to hover in front of me, “You’ll use my power to accomplish the duties of my miraculous and ensure the safety of spirits.”
---------
Workers Report
So we had this big order, like huge order, and Geoffrey was in charge of the details.
But this other guy, Owain, he took the call from the client, Rene, when they changed some details. But he forgot to tell Geoffrey. So the order wasn’t changed, but like, it was a big change, they wanted a different color entirely.
So when the order was filled and it was wrong Rene was furious, and Owain claimed he had no idea what happened, so Geoffrey got fired.
Then I don’t know man, suddenly he was covered in weird purple stuff and then he was a rock giant!
It just came out of nowhere and he just started destroying things, it was scary.
-------------
So I headed to college, Trixx coming along for the ride.
And this is where things really got crazy.
---
I finished smoothing out the bedding my friend Ian had given me (He’s a snobby rich kid but he’s a loyal friend… and tends to buy anything I look at for more than three seconds), pausing to peer around my half of the room. It looked good, lots of art, plenty of pillows, and my secret stashes of chocolate set up.
My roommate was straightening up her bed still, she’d added some fairy lights to the bed frame.
I hummed, double checking my plugs, then turned to my roommate. I have no idea what her name is but I do know she’s unfairly pretty.
She bounced on her toes, looking very cute, “Uh… Ciao! NO wait… Bonjour…? I’m Hazel-August Primo! I’m from Italia! Milan specifically! It’s uh… very nice to yeet you! I MEAN meet you! I am sorry, I’m really awkward and don’t talk much.”
My roommate ducked her head, her hair covering her face.
I smiled shyly, “Konichiwa, or uh, haha, we’re both doing it. Bonjour I suppose. I’m Jasmine Vermillion, I’m originally from Britain but I’ve lived in Nihon for the last ten years.”
I bowed politely, “It’s very nice to meet you Hazel-san, I hope we can get along.”
She perked up instantly, “Japan! Oh my stars! How many cherry blossom blooms did you go to? Did you participate in the street fashion? What was your favorite part? Did you try Soba?”
She suddenly flushed, rubbing her neck, “Oh uh, Apologies. I got excited. It’s very nice to meet you too! Let’s do our best this year!” She bowed her head.
I couldn’t help but laugh, “I love the festivals, though I’ve only been to a few. They’re so beautiful. And I didn’t do much street fashion, but I did help some of my friends with theirs. My favorite part is undoubtedly the shrines, they’re all so pretty and there’s so much to do. And yes, I’ve had soba many times.”
I shrugged, smiling, “I’m glad you’re excited, I’m happy to be roommates with you uh,” And I may have already forgotten her name, “I guess we should finish setting up. I can go grab some groceries.”
I tugged my hair, my stomach twisting into knots again. Trixx snickered in my hair as I peered at my roommate, whose name I can't remember.
My roommate giggled, "I can come with if you would like an extra set of arms. Or I can stay back and start putting away pots, pans, and plates. My Mother sent some nice stuff from a military installation in India! Mostly plates and silverware but also some spice jars for keeping spices."
I perked up, "that's great, I have a bunch of cups and jars and stuff, I can go get some groceries and you can put your stuff up, then I'll put up my stuff and you can put up the groceries?”
"Okay! Oh! Before I forget! I got you a gift! I only knew my roommate was a girl so I hope you like it!" The shorter girl smiled and offered me a beautiful bracelet, probably from Milan.
It had seven gems embedded in it. Ones I recognized from Trixx’s lessons, Ruby, carnelian, yellow quartz, emerald, sapphire, amethyst and Obsidian. It was on a silver chain that was not really thick but not thin either. "I know it's kinda pricey but I really wanted to make a good impression. I hope you like it!" My roommate smiled up at me shyly.
It was amazing, I definitely loved it, though I couldn’t be rude.
"Oh! You didn't need to," I tried to push it back to her roommate, "I really couldn't accept, it's too much!"
"Please accept it! I think it'd be good for formal occasions! My Mother will flip if she finds out I bought something expensive because 'bambina, it's conducive to your therapy! You don't need to get people nice stuff to like you. Just be genuine and up front!' It's not getting you to like me as much as it is trying to make a really good first impression. I should explain. I have borderline personality disorder and I get anxious and sometimes I say stuff I don't mean and that's called splitting. So like one day I could be really nice and kind but then the next day I can be like mean and rude. Is this making sense? I'm sorry! I can return it!"
"Oh, I just wouldn't want you to feel the need, but if you insist..." I smiled slightly as I accepted the bracelet, picking it up carefully with both hands.
"I understand, I have ADHD which isn't nearly the same but does come with struggles, we'll work out issues as they come."
I carefully put the bracelet on my wrist, "it is a beautiful gift, thank you. I actually have one for you as well."
I dug through my trunk for a moment before pulling out a plastic bag, I pulled out the present I had carefully wrapped in green. I offered it to my new roommate with both hands.
She accepted it with a gentle smile. "Grazi! I appreciate it very much." I watched her unwrap the gift nervously. Compared to what she got me my gift to her was much simpler.
She finished unwrapping it and just looked at the folded fan for a moment. I had picked it carefully, from the darkness of the wood to the beautiful purple fabric with the delicate white butterflies on it, I went for some simple symbolism, while focusing on the elegance.
"This is beautiful. Did you know that Purple was a very hard color to produce? It was made from one type of sea slug and was very rare and usually reserved only for royalty." My roommate sounded in awe of the gift, which was a relief.
I smiled, "I'm glad you like it, and yes I did. It symbolizes celebration and luxury in Nihon."
I let out a breath, "I very much like the bracelet that you gifted me, thank you for thinking of me."
I turned and grabbed some grocery bags, the reusable kind, glancing at the clock. "I'll go grab groceries, anything you need?"
"It's a bit of an odd and pricey request, but could you get some Camembert? I'll pay you back!" My roommate looked hesitant.
I nodded, "sure, as long as you don't mind me getting some eggs" ‘Or a few dozen.’
“Sure, go ahead.”
I grabbed my purse and headed out the door, slipping my shoes on as I left. "Be back in an hour or so"
I headed out to grab some groceries so we could have food, we had a microwave! And yelped when a rock nearly took my head off.
I snapped around to gape at the stone golem in front of me. It was huge.
“You need to hide kit” Trixx hissed from my hair.
I quickly ducked and slunk along the line of cars to slip into an alcove hidden by some bushes.
“What is that?”
“It’s the butterfly! I can sense it’s power but I don’t know what it’s doing this, Nooroo always picks kindhearted people to hold their miraculous.”
I frowned, this isn’t good, “Okay, but what do we do about it?”
“You need to transform to fight it.”
I blanked, that thing, a monster attacking us, the butterfly was supposed to be a partner to me, that’s what Trixx said, but it was attacking, and how was I- what was I- This couldn’t- I can’t fight this thing. The ground spun, my head hurt, what was I supposed to do? Throw some illusions at it? FoxFire probably wouldn’t do anything to stone, Requiem was useless for this, how could FoxHunt help ? Honoring? Useless, Shift couldn’t help! My ears were ringing, I’m not a fighter holder, I’m a strategist! I can’t do this, Trixx should pick someone else, someone who could use the skills she gave, but I’m not it. I can’t do this, I just can’t.
“No, no Trixx how am I supposed to fight-”
“You don’t have to fight,” Trixx hovered in front of me, “You don’t have to fight, just gathering information will be enough. Stay hidden and find the corrupted item. It’ll be something that the golem has.”
“I- I- I-” My chest was tight, an asthma attack?
“Focus on me, Jasmine, look at me, look at me.”
I looked at the little kwami, “Okay, looking? Good, now focus on my breathing, see, in, out, in, out,” The kwami’s tail flicked and suddenly there was a shape, growing slowly, “In,” it started shrinking, “out,” slowly my breathing steadied.
In, out, in, out, in, out, I breathed, finally able to take a breath. I could hear again, the crashing farther away, but crying nearby, I needed to move.
“You alright?” I blinked, looking at the kwami, they peered back nervously.
“I- sorry, I guess my asthma acted up.” I scrambled for my inhaler.
“That wasn’t an asthma attack, that was a panic attack kit.” Trixx drifted forward to nuzzle my cheek, “It’s okay if you don’t want to go out and fight, it’s scary.”
“I-” The cries were loud, sobbing from nearby, people were hurt. I normally don’t particularly care, I have low empathy, but… I still couldn’t stand by and do nothing. This was a lot of pain, I needed to help somehow, “I just need to transform again?”
“Yep, only this time focus on the threat, your suit will change to match the situation.”
I blinked, “The suits change?”
Trixx giggled, “You didn’t think that dressy, dramatic, bright outfit was the one you’d fight or sneak in did you?”
“Can it change mid-battle?”
Trixx nodded, “Yeah, you can use your flute to change it, but it leaves you vulnerable while you change forms, and it will take a point from your miraculous, so it’s best to know what your intent is before transforming.”
I took a breath, the building shook, I could do this, focus on sneaking.
“Trixx, Time to Hunt.”
The magic of the transformation swept over me, different from the previous times. Instead of rising to coat me in softness and loose cloth, it slid close to the skin, muted and steady. The two tails remained, but otherwise the style differed.
I studied myself for a moment, touching the new mask, styled like a kitsune mask from a festival. The suit was more dark grey then white and black, but it was nice, the belt had multiple pockets, and the flute was tucked into a loop on the back.
I clutched the flute, and slipped out of the alcove.
Slinking along the path I had a hard time breathing. The destruction was horrible. Buildings crushed, torn apart, people broken and bleeding. This was very real, and very dangerous.
I slid around and leapt up to a roof, studying the area. I was to gather information, couldn’t do much else right now.
I carefully followed the golem down the road as it yelled in rage.
Then there was a child crying as it stumbled away from the golem. A young boy with blonde hair. The golem raised its fist.
The world blurred as I snatched the boy up and threw us into an alley. I spun to see the golem focusing on us. Damn.
“YOU, FOX”
A symbol appeared on its face, a butterfly huh? Well, looks like I need to trick the fool into breaking the item Trixx mentioned, or I’m doomed.
“GIVE ME YOUR EARRINGS!”
I blinked, earrings? Whatever.
“Fox Sense.” I murmured, twirling my flute. Breathing in as I focused on the enhanced senses. The dust was annoying, but I could see every detail of the golem, hear the cries from all around the area, and smell the dirt and fear and blood around me.
More importantly, I noticed nothing on him that could be the item, but I also noticed his fist. One was open to attack me, the other, it was in a fist. As, I realized, it had been the whole time.
If the item wasn’t on the golem or visible in any way, then the golem must be holding it.
I crouched, gripping my flute tighter. The fox is not meant for battle, but that doesn’t mean I can’t win anyways.
I raised the flute to my lips, blowing a soft tune, “Mirage”
The area shimmered with light for a moment, and then it was a construction zone, with bars falling onto the golem, a rumble as a crane tilted.
“RAAA” The golem staggered, grabbing for the bars falling with both hands, a small piece of paper falling from his hand.
The bars shattered right before they could touch the golems hand. Shards falling as the crane fell towards it. The golem stumbled back, raising its hands to cover its head.
I moved. I reached the paper, a strange black energy surrounding it. It shattered as soon as I stomped on it.
A little black butterfly pulled free, fluttering off.
Black energy bubbled around the golem, fading to reveal a man.
I blinked, ‘that...’
“Huh” My ponytail swung as I shook my head, “Weird.”
“Who are you?” A whisper caught my attention, the boy was staring.
“I’m....” Names were important, “Kitsune Neige.”
I swiped my flute to disperse the illusion and leapt up, pausing on the roof to look at the butterfly hurrying away. It still had black energy around it.
-----------
Time to Rest-
28 notes
·
View notes