Seeing the irls look a little envious of Shaeu I raised an eyebrow questioningly, and Eri was the ohat answered for me. “To be fair, we pyed a game of ce to see who would get to look after you while you were out. We should have knower, matg luck with Shaeu isn’t going to end well for a her.”

  Shaeu merely gri that, gng at the ring of golden knots and thorns on her finger. “I have always been lucky, there is no-o be jealous. It was only for a few minutes, was it not-not?”

  “Is that how long I was trapped in her Sea of Thought?” I asked, instinctively looking down at Tamamo-no-Mae. The remaining s had started to disie, and her colossal chest, now hidden by a coat draped over her, had begun to move, breaths ing slowly. “It seemed like… damn, a long time. Everything blurred together…” I shuddered, remembering just how brutal the pain was. My thoughts could already run at a speed far outstripping ordinary people, even so, it seemed… excessive. Perhaps Tamamo-no-Mae’s mind owerful indeed, even after all her torments. If so, I have even more respect for her will, if not everything else…

  “Yes, it was merely twenty minutes or so.” Motoko said. At my questioning expression at seeing her, she shrugged. “I covered her with my coat. There are… me.” As my expression ged, she let out a surprisingly amused ugh, a little at odds with her usual elegant demeanour. “You should already knoere here, I know Daiyu and Eri were unig with you.”

  “Yes, we weren’t going to be left out.” Natsumi agreed with a grin. “When our fiancé is in need, we’ll be there. Don’t feel bad for us.”

  “Quite.” Motoko nodded firmly. “I know you wished one of us to triumph in your little challehough perhaps it is better this way. Choosiween Natsumi and I must have been a nightmare for you, trying to appear fair…” She paused, her smile deepening. “…It is quite all right, I will pretend Natsumi had a pared to me. What she does not know ot hurt her.”

  For a moment there was silence, and I was shocked too, before Motoko’s face reddened, and Natsumi burst out ughing. “Sure, keep telling yourself that, Motoko! I may be your friend, but all’s fair in love and war!”

  “Is it me… or does everyone seem a little different?” I asked. Motoko wasn’t usually one for humour, being quiet and serious.

  “This time was… nerve-wrag. It brought everyone closer. Apart from poor Asha, Kana- and Hinata. They all missed out.” Natsumi said thoughtfully. “Kana- was still w at your stru projects, Hinata is returning from Seoul, and Asha… nobody wants to risk her. She wao help, but… we khat you wouldn’t want to put her or your children in any danger. We were right, weren’t we?”

  All of the women nodded fiercely, and I finally smiled, feeling that it was over at st. “Yes, it’s too uain. I don’t know anything about Fae pregnancy, but I’ll learn.”

  Eri was the oo agree. “We all o learn. Asha is the first, and it makes me rather jealous, but our time will e. But fortunately, we gathered other allies. When we called on your behalf, they answered.”

  I could see Shaeu’s brother Shaeraggo, apanied by Selensha. Shaeraggo was casting g the badly wounded and pitiful looking Nebisuki, who now outside of the Sea of Thought of Tamamo-no-Mae was back to her tragic state, missing a leg and two tails, though her wounds had stabilised, likely due to Shaeu’s ministrations. Seeing that, I couldn’t help but shake my head. He shouldn’t be doing that with one of his wives just there. The Fae really do have a casual and tangled web of retionships…

  Beside them was Haanōbō, apanied by a number of Tengu. She was wearing her mask as usual, but it was impossible to mistake her wings and vibrant hair. Seeing me looking, she muttered out some words. “We have an alliah you, and Great Tarōbō would not break his given word.”

  “And it has nothing to do with the fact it was Akio who was calling you?” Natsumi teased her. “Your dear brother called, how could you refuse?”

  “He is not… no, it does not matter.” Haanōbō ed herself in her wings like a cloak, clearly embarrassed. Since going through the trials of Mount Atago together, Motoko, Natsumi and Haanōbō had a closer retionship than I had initially expected they would. “I am pleased to see you safe. I had heard it was a grave uaking.”

  “Hey, there’s only room for one sister here!” My own sis insisted, half-joking. “Oh well, at least I’m not tsundere, so I have the advahere was further ughter from everyone, relief starting to overpower the sense end danger.

  “And are you ign us?” A harsh yet amused voice broke in, and I turo see David Reckless, sitting down casually on a nearby boulder. “You’ll hurt the feelings of our dear Princess if you do.” Beside him, Eleanor erched elegantly, despite her pale face of exhaustion, her green and gold armour making her lal, even so drained.

  “David…” she hissed, clearly flustered. “This is hardly the time for your jokes.” As he raised an eyebrow at her sardonically, giving a mog ugh, she shook her head. “Enough out of you. We are not being ignored, he was getting to us.”

  “I was.” I agreed. “I’m grateful for the help. Every drop of aether and elemental energy was vital, this really was a reckless move.” I couldn’t resist a pun which got a wry chuckle out of David.

  “I am gd you appreciate our aid.” Eleanor rexed, her normal calm demeanour reasserting itself. “Obviously we have many demands on our time, trying to solidify our trol over London and the surrounding areas, especially since we are shorthanded…” Remembering that made her sad. There had been a full ating of the Chosen of Britain after the betrayal by so many, falling in with Mary Stuart, and a number more had been relieved of their duties and were under close watch by the British gover.

  Seeing how her words had dampehe mood, she flushed again. “Never mind that. We are allies, so it is only natural for us to aid each other in times of need. You would do the same for us, wouldn’t you?”

  “Of course. If one of us is stronger, we all are.” I agreed. Tamamo-no-Mae’s breathing was nur, and I had a feeling she was scious, just pretending to be unscious, trying to assess the situation. Not that I bme her. Everything that happened in her mindscape seems like a dream, though that might just be because of the ed sense of time and all the pain. Holding in a shudder so as not to worry everyone, I tinued.

  “Not that I want you to think I’m only doing it because you helped us, but it seems that Motoko and Natsumi are decided.” I g the Elves too, remembering my sis having said Bell had done something impassioned I hadn’t seen. Seeing my look, Bell shrugged, a slightly embarrassed smile on her face, and Soliteare nodded her agreement. “The Elves agree, it seems. So assuming that Miss Aditi prove herself patible, the Favour is hers. Besides, you are shorthanded.”

  “He’s got you there.” David teased. “Thanks fangirl, quiet girl.” He waved approvingly at Natsumi and Motoko. “You as well.” The Elves were also thanked. “Our little miss Asian will be delighted to be ba the front lines. It’ll be hard oeacher, but…”

  “David, we hardly ask for more.” Eleanor demurred. “Of course, I do hope that you bear our aid in mind when it es to taking treasures from the Tower…”

  “Sorry, those are two different matters. Hinata would be angry if we don’t get what we paid for.” I teased Eleanor. “But of course Mrs Mary-Jane be sidered if a suitable Favour presents itself.” I then looked around, surprised. “So, are we underground?”

  My sis nodded. “Yeah. I had to make it my Territory, the Boundary… apparently it’s screwed here, and I know you want it in check. Before you say anything my big bro moonstone would say…” She cut me off. “I know it’s a huge risk, you don’t have to tell me, bro. But you also knew going after this bad old fox…” She Tamamo-no-Mae in my arms. The Kitsuwitched a little, and I knew she was listening. Does she uand us? Perhaps as we were sharing minds…

  “…was a risk too, a bigger ohan this, but you thought you had to do it. So you pnned as best you could. It still needed everyoo help out, but… this isn’t any different.” She gririumphantly, hands on her hips despite her exhaustion. “She should be done soon. We’ve been digging!”

  I gnced around, and I could see that her golden warriors were indeed expanding the cavern we occupied, and as my Eye fred, the effort incredibly fatiguing, with how drained I was, I could see where the damp, musky smell was ing from, as I saw Hyath sitting amidst a smaller side tunnel, a rich vein of ruby elemental energies gushing out of cracks in the ground. A ring of vivid mushrooms and toadstools had grown around her, and her body was radiating her nature element, spores tinuing to grow out the Ring Gate.

  “I see. If that’s what you’ve decided then.” I ceded. Having a Territory offered a lot of bes, but also matg risks. “However, when the Ring Gate is linked up, get Ixitt’s Mobile Silos to ferry over enough ether to get upgraded to Rank three and throw down some extra defences. It’s only a million or so ether…” Only a million. I remember when that was an unimaginable sum. Now it’s a day with Shiro’s extra buff aigating it. Of course, since I’ll be going abroad for a while soon, that isn’t an option for the near future…

  “Thanks bro!” My sis gave me a thumbs up. “Appreciate it. But for now, shouldn’t we worry about other things?”

  “Yeah.” With a grimace I got up, still carrying Tamamo-no-Mae in my arms. She was light despite her height and phenomenal proportions, and her lengthy shroud of hair, easily long enough to touch the floor, made it a bit awkward, but I wao keep an eye on her with Chirurgery. And to prevent any ued is. I thanked everyone personally, the numerous members of Adamant and also the Fae who had e at the call of my fiancées, paying special attention to the twins.

  “I hear you were the real stars this time.” I paused, looking over at the silent Arisu-san, who was once more being apanied by Shiro now the battle was over. “Of course, you as well, Arisu-san.”

  “I hardly need your praise. We are allies, as Princess Eleanor so suctly stated before. Besides, White here would only have been distraught had you perished. And my priorities have ged. I have no wish to take on the burden of ruling this world. I shall leave it to others with more aptitude and desire than I.”

  “She’s just not good at saying what she means.” Shiro ughed, earning a ft gre. As the two of them bickered, I tinued praising the twins. They promised to work harder and master every element, helping everyone else who o learn to do so. As we were chatting, a group of weaselkin and ratkin desded down from the surface, covered in ash.

  “We have-have found what we could.” The leader, a rge, bck-furred weaselkin said, pg some fragments of jade and crystal in front of Daiyu. Seeing me looking, Daiyu shrugged slightly.

  “I was hoping that some of the Saint’s treasures survived the colpse of the Sessho-seki. Sadly it seems that hope was rgely in vain. Even so, to witness a Saint, false as he was, and to relive memories of distant Kunlun… this venture has been a profitable one for me.” She smiled shyly then. “Besides, I would not have you perish, my Dao panion. Not in such a manner. I uand if you are too busy and drained for tomorrow. I shall allow you to attend to matters…”

  I didn’t eveo see the harsh gres of my sis, Eri and the others before I shook my head emphatically, denying her kind, self-sacrifig words. “No. To me, no matter is as urgent as making sure your birthday is just perfect for you. We still have some time. Besides… not everything was lost. I mao salvage some Formation ptes and scraps from the Material Sessho-seki. But that’s for tomorrow.” I’ve made other arras too, she should be ing back with Hinata…

  “Are you sure?” Daiyu asked, suddenly shy. And my nod, her smile was radiant. “Very well then. I will be impolite and impose on you.”

  “It’s hardly an imposition. I’ll be having fun too. And I could certainly use a break from weightier matters. Speaking of…” I looked down at Tamamo-no-Mae, still cradled in my arms. “…I know you’ve woken up. The flow of your aether has ged.”

  The Kitsune shuddered theatrically, limp tails suddenly flexing. Her ears flickered, and moments ter her eyelids slid slowly open, revealing orbs like green jade. “I…” She said a few words of barely intelligible a Japanese, before frowning, beautiful even doing that, and then paused for thought, before speaking in a way we could uand, though her at was still rather archaic. “I was simply wary. Have you no care for a delicate woman, who has suffered greatly?”

  Nebisuki was the ohat answered, barking a bitter ugh. “Delicate? You, grandmother? You will have to be far more believable. Besides, if you wish to seduce him, such efforts will be futile.”

  “Seduce? I am simply…” She lowered her head, leaking a bitter sigh. “I remember. The pain I inflicted upon you. I… apologise.” At those words, Nebisuki goggled, stunned.

  “You? Apologise? Now I believe I die in peace, havihe world no longer make sense.” Her words were harsh, but there was resped fear in them, I wagered. “You never are sorry for anything you do. A Queen, an Empress… we are merely here for your whims.”

  Tamamo-no-Mae narrowed her eyes as I put her down, and she stood, crossing her arms, tails raised behind her like banners. “If so, you should not be provoking me… granddaughter. It seems you have fewer tails than when I st saw you…”

  “That stings. I…” Nebisuki coughed weakly. “…was irying to save you, grandmother. Perhaps a little gratitude… no, expeg such is obviously folly. It seems I am not in my right mind…”

  “No, you are not.” Tamamo-no-Mae agreed haughtily. Everyone was watg, with a differi of emotions. I, amusement, awe, depending on the viewer, there was a whole spectrum of curiosity on dispy. She is a legendary myth after all. A lot of people abroad may not have heard of Nurarihyon, but the ailed fox is quite famous worldwide… “As though, it seems I do feel sorry.” She looked at me then. “My memories… I do not feel myself. A lot is gone, perhaps burned away. You felt it, no? Oblivion was my only soce from his cruelty.” She looked pitiful, and I felt the urge to fort her, but I held myself back, unwilling to be fooled by her charms. Seeing that, she merely quirked her lips in a slight smile, before tinuing sorrowfully. “What I do remember feels distant, as though I was but an observer, not truly experieng it. I was an Empress, yes, little granddaughter, but be you an Empress or a sve, such treatment as I have endured will wear you away to nothing. But now…”

  “What will you do?” I asked. “How will you live? I know you likely have s for Su Caihong and her daughter, but… a few days or even weeks won’t make a difference. If they are dead, then that’s that, but if they still live…” I then promised to send emissaries to the far north. It would o be someone who could travel ierial, and theer the Boundary, and also had suitable power to be safe meeting Sekka, the most powerful Yuki-onna in Japan. I’ll sort that out before I go abroad. It’s not time critical, but I also want to avoid the ludicrously unlucky sario where they are barely ging to life and perish over these few days. The odds of that are nearly ent, though…

  On hearing their names, her greeook on a distant stare. “I… how do I feel? I remember my rage, my desire to keep them safe, my need for revenge… no… I still feel that. Even in ashes, those who thwart me earn my enmity, and I leave no slight unrevenged. As for how I shall live…” She grimaced. “I am in not much better a shape than our two-tailed little fox here…” She couldn’t resist a dig at her maimed granddaughter. “I have been humiliated, body and spirit, for tless years, burned away like inse, all to power that wretched fool. If he was not already dead in a cruel manner, I would be happy to send him to Yomi.”

  “So scary…” my sis muttered, and I had to agree. Even now, the fury in her voice was almost mesmerising. No, that’s just her Charm and maybe her Majesty, I think?

  “But I still live. I will not thank you, for I did not ask for your aid…” Tamamo-no-Mae decred to me haughtily. “I wished instead for death, and you deed to grahat boon. Insolence.” Now she was smiling, amused, her moods oddly geable. “But just as I was free to do as I wished due to my unrivalled strength, so too did you force me to yield, freeing me despite my wishes. And worse… you have bound me. For now, I have little choice but to live as you please. But remember, should you abuse me, I shall one day be free. I may be a dle loed and deformed, but I have fotten more wisdom than you shall ever know.” She was smiling, and I felt my grasp on her invisible tail, but I khreats when I heard them. “Si seems I am not yet destio leave this world… I shall allow you to make good on your words to me, and show me that this is a world worth living for, despite my losses. Show me a world that is no longer b. For now, I am living at your pleasure. But I shall rise again, and my name shall once more no longer bind me, as it was and will be again.” Her gaze was now challenging, and I found that more attractive than her false charm of earlier.

  The tense moment was broken by great peals of ughter by Nebisuki. Tamamo-no-Mae raised an eyebrow, both amused and annoyed, and barked out a question. “Just what brings you such mirth? Are you happy, seeing me so bound? I did refuse to aid you that day, but I let you live. It seems petty to ugh at my misfortune.”

  “I am not ughing at that, grandmother. More myself. Akio too has taken my name. I ot refuse him.” At those words, I was receiving a very pointed look from Eleanor, but David, still exhausted, merely leaned over and nudged her shoulder. Blinking, she realised she had promised to give me the be of the doubt in future, so retracted her querying gaze.

  “I said the same. I thought that when you returned, I would finally be able to grow my fifth tail. Uranai predicted so.” She snorted, looking sorrowfully at her ragged stumps. “It seems I have travelled further from my goal. No matter. But I believed I would grow strong enough to break the forced bond. No, calling it forced is wrong…” At least Nebisuki picked up on Eleanor’s misgivings. “I offered, knowing I o lower myself for my goal. For my survival. But I am proud. All we Kitsune are. We get that pride from you, grandmother.”

  Tamamo-no-Mae watched on in silence, listening, and Nebisuki tinued. “However, it seems that Akio is far from ordinary. It must be so, as Uranai believes the fate of the Kitsune lie in two hands. His, and yrandmother. But… apparently his bonds are unbreakable, so… he cims he will hold my name forever. Perhaps yours too, grandmother. He grows his strength rapidly, so… perhaps you will find it harder to escape than you wish to?” Her smile was now wicked. “Perhaps it is some st sotion for those you toyed with yourself? Now you will be toyed with in turn. It may well do you some good.”

  “Insoleamamo-no-Mae decred, but I detected a trace of unease in her pose. I felt a geugging at her invisible tail, and though she tried to cover it up, even doing that was inflig great pain on her, as her Chakra work was a twisted aed mess. “I am she of the ails. I will do as I please, as I always have. But for now… we have exged promises.”

  “That’s right.” I agreed, gd to ge the subject. “Besides, I’m not going to force you to do anything but cause no harm to me or my allies.”

  “This must be a fasating tale, but… we should return.” Eleanor said pointedly. “I believe your words, but even with good cause… forcibly bending women, even these spiritual beings, to your will is not a good look, Akio. People will misuand easily…” She flushed as Shiro and Shaeu ughed at her. “I am not so ined to believe the worst. I believe I know him better now. But others…”

  “Yeah, you’re right.” I agreed, soothing her. “But it’s a Yōkai thing, unfortunately. “Out of my trol. In any case, you’re keeping an eye on me all the time, so you’ll not let me stray onto the wrong path, will you?”

  “He’s got you there, Princess.” David agreed, and Eleanor scowled, showing an expression that she would never do while ag as a Princess in the real world.

  “Never mind. This is all very well, but… we should be going. Arisugawa-san, if you would?”

  “We’ll wait for the Ring Gate.” I said, thanking everyone one final time, and as those leaving filed into her Room, I looked at Tamamo-no-Mae again. “Don’t worry, we’ll talk things out. Right now, I think we are all too beaten and exhausted to think clearly. I know I am. You really did try and kill me off…”

  “Bah.” Tamamo-no-Mae shrugged, nearly causing the coat she was ed in to burst. “I was not myself. Perhaps I never will be again. But…” She took a deep breath, ae the ash, spores and dust in the air, she seemed pleased. “…I admit, to live a moment free of such torture… it is worth mudeed. If I have regrets, it is simply…”

  “Ohing at a time.” I broke in. “Ohing at a time. For now… let’s go home. I’ve a lot to do before tomorrow.” my hand to Daiyu, she took it gently, and we waited for Hyath to finish…

  ***

  “This seems maly unfair.” Nie Ling rarely pined, she was usually withdrawn and quiet, but now she rotesting bitterly. “If she’s in fact Bao Si, as the stories say, she is responsible for much greater evil than I did! And it was at her own pleasure!”

  “I see my legend lives on.” Tamamo-no-Mae said unhelpfully. Once Hyath had exhausted herself creating the Ring Gate and linking it to the Hub at Shirohebizumi shrine, we had returhere, though my sis had stayed behind, and was receiviher shipments anised by Shaeu. “But what does that matter? I know not what you have done, little girl, but from your words, you have done evil too. Does one being more heinous e the lesser?”

  “No, but…” Ling seemed unwilling to back down. I was having her send Tamamo-no-Mae to the Material, as it was not something she could manager herself, unlike fifteen hundred years ago, due to her malformed work and the lower ether density of Earth. Beside us stood Hyath and Tsukiko, who had decided to take care of her acclimatisation. I couldn’t help but smile as I remembered.

  Tsukiko wants to be useful, and feels a little out of pce herself, having embraced her own self, not as just the Diviner, so she also feels that fish-out-of-water vibe. As for Hyath… when she heard what Tamamo-no-Mae had endured over the long years, perhaps it struck a chord with her, as she wished to also help her. Her nature as at least partially a Brownie likely influehat too.

  “You aren’t being punished like I am!” she finished, losing steam.

  “Am I not?” The Kitsune ughed. There was another here, her granddaughter, though she was waiting for Shaeu to recover some aether to treat her injuries with Chirurgery. I’ll likely have to finish it off, she’s totally broken by the loss of her tails and the backsh, but once she’s stabilised properly, we have time. “I endured more than you could cope with, little girl. Perhaps it was not punishmeed out by those I wronged, but you would not st a moment uhat pain. I have lost more than you could ever hope to uand.”

  “Look, are you unsatisfied?” I asked Ling, troubled. It’s not like I don’t uand where she is ing from, but nothing ges the i dead of Kyoto. While the level of bme she should face is tricky to decide, both legally and morally… she also o live with it herself. “I know you’re not free to do your own thing, but you live quietly at my estate, you go out if properly supervised, and you may think we’re exploiting your powers, but… aying wages into an at for you. You just ’t access most of it yet. Do you really think that you didn’t do anything deserving of punishment?”

  That silenced her. Biting her lip, she cried out. “I’m not as strong as you. Perhaps I should have spat in its face, let it e me… but I’m no hero. I did what I had to do to survive!”

  “And so are we. Your power is needed. And holy… do you wao let you go? I .”

  She paused, surprised, and opened her mouth to speak, before her expression ged, and she looked down, torn. I thought I could uand her, so I pressed on. “What would you do then? I’ll give you what you’ve earned, so you buy a small home somewhere, but trouble will e looking for you, we both know it. You have power, but it isn’t ohat is useful alone. Not against someone like me, or even the Chosen in Korea. And you know that defeating you would strehers. Besides… you strike me as someone who doesn’t want to fight.”

  “I don’t. I never wanted any of this. I just wanted a peaceful life…”

  “Which you have, it sounds like.” Tamamo-no-Mae interjected. “I see no manacles, no s. You are not starved or tortured.”

  “s be invisible…” Ling pointed out, and Tamamo-no-Mae seized on that as if she was waiting on it.

  “Yes, they . And I am so bound. I am merely a poor sve to this master of yours. Unlike you though, I am not human. I shudder to think how I will be used and abused, tormeo make up for my crimes…”

  “He won’t do that.” Ling said, and Tamamo-no-Mae smirked, her point proved. Ling flushed, but then sighed bitterly. “I’m a erson. Why the Duke of Dreams e, I have no idea. Holy… I thought I would hate this, hate you.” She shook her head, as if to clear her thoughts. “But it isn’t so bad. Using my power for this, not to fight. I’ve visited the stru site. It’s miraculous. Seeing giants and maery hand in hand. If… if I make the world better, maybe…”

  “You’ll sleep better at night?” I asked knowingly, and she sighed.

  “I had no choice. I… think you were too cruel to me. But… I know many died so I could live. You’re right. Unless I somehow vince myself it was worth it… and I ’t go home. In a I’m a traitor they’ll hunt down, and it is as you say, others like us will hunt me… even so, her punishment should be greater than mine!”

  “It was greater than you could imagine.” I assured her. “Not that it makes the crimes she itted disappear. But… just as I need your powers, Nie Ling, I need hers. Uand?”

  “I do. But… You’d really let me go?” she asked hesitantly.

  “Before… maybe not. But you’re right about ohing. There’s no fair solution to your crimes.”

  “Such a meaningless versation.” Tamamo-no-Mae waved her tails. “You acted in your own is. Others paid for it. Just own it. I do. Now it seems you are paying penance here. That should be enough. Nobody turn back time. Now, little girl…”

  “I have a ’s…” Ling began, but Tamamo-no-Mae cut her off.

  “Now, little girl…” she repeated, and Hyath giggled. “…I am eager to see the world that cks boredom I romised, and… it has been many, many long years since I have known pleasures of the flesh and spirit. I am eager tain some sembnce of joy, if only to spite that old fool who tormented me.”

  “Fine. I’ll do it…” Ling said with a frown, before sayiantly. “Do you think I be like you, and nret it one day?”

  “Who is to say I have s?” Tamamo-no-Mae ughed. “I am naught but regrets. But I am who I am. I did those acts, through boredom, malice, hubris, pride or jealousy. I am me, I could have dohing else. Of course, now… I ot live for myself. So for now… I shall try being a new me. But even a new me, memories merely a mask I wear, shall still act as I act, for I do naught else. You… had no choice but to be yourself. Those acts have sequences, but… how you decide now is also not a choice, but iability.”

  “Iable?” Ling nodded. “Maybe so. In that case…” She looked at me seriously then. “I wouldn’t mind some of my wages… if I’m… going to keep on doing this work, I want to take some pride in it, not just feel like I’m atoning, or being punished. And… dohe rest. It won’t ge anything, but… I will do some good in the world. Besides…” She looked on, early, and I thought it was the truest face she had ever shown me, her spiky, bitter defensiveness and self-pity swept aside to reveal her core. “…I really don’t hate the work. Seeing everyone w together to build something, rather than w for that monster who threatened and trolled me, only seeking to destroy… I think this is the better path.”

  “And there is your answer, little girl.” Tamamo-no-Mae smiled. “If you have no choices, either accept that, or vince yourself that your ck of choice is meaningless. I shall do the same. Though again., being myself, I do nothing else. Though being dominated will be a novel experience...” Her grin was wicked, so I shook my head.

  “All right, that’s enough of that. I’ll talk to Hinata. We’re actually already donating to the victims’ families on your behalf, but I agree it’s more meaningful this way. Now, I’m in a hurry, you send Tamamo-no-Mae over now?”

  “Yes, I too am eager.” The Kitsune crowed, and as aether surged, and Tamamo-no-Mae shed her Astral body, I recreated my Material form, while my Astral one headed for the Ring Gate, for the Fae Realms. I o restore as muy aether and elemental energies as possible for Daiyu’s day tomorrow. No, it’s nearly today, in fact. In any case… at least that’ll be a much more pleasing uaking than today’s was… Exging a knowing gh Nebisuki as I left the room, I found myself grinning, admiring Asha’s great Tree that towered over the Ring Gate Hub.

  We did it. Uranai believed that Tamamo-no-Mae protect my seeds. Now all I o do is gather them, sow them… and then… the harvest!

  ShipTeaser