A Demon's Tale

Her wounds were shallow. There were only scratches across her body as she subdued the attackers. However, there was one wound that was much stronger than the others. A wound from a knife at the side of her waist. After tossing some of the perpetrators to the floor, she quickly ran and hid in a closet. Not her own, but instead an extra closet that existed within the house. Taking the emergency first aid that had been there and applying wraps to her wound. The closet resided in the guestroom of the house. There was no reason to keep this room as an extra place for someone to stay, as not many had visited her home to begin with. Despite this, she had hoped that one day her children would bring home a friend, perhaps someone closer, and allow them to stay here. In a way, that very person would also become a child she could look after.

She enjoyed it. The idea of taking care of those two. She had always told them she wasn’t a babysitter when they were young, but she secretly loved this feeling. She would likely never have someone of her own. She would likely never have children of her own. There would never be a chance for something like this. She was scum. She did not deserve such things. What was now unfolding made that all the more evident. And yet, she had received a gift. She received those two. They were the exact same race as those she had killed. But even if they were, they still loved her. She still loved them. They knew what she had done, but she still came first in their mind. What clumsy little children she had. Just for thinking that, she would scold them when they arrived back home.

When they arrived back home…

She became scared. She did not fear losing her life, but rather something else. She did not want them to lose her. She did not want to disappear from their lives. They loved her. So why would she hurt them by dying.

She hated this thought.

She did not enjoy it in the slightest.

These oni came here to exact revenge for their fallen brethren. She understood that. Had she been the same person she was before she met those two children, she would have likely allowed it to happen. They had mentioned they received a tip from someone regarding her location. She was unsure of who. All of this was odd, but it was something she would have accepted a long time ago.

That was a long time ago however.

She had children now. She loved them. Cared for them. She read them stories. She showed them how to fish. She taught them many things. She acted as a caretaker for them.

She acted as a mother for them.

She did not want them to cry. Whenever they cried, it hurt her deeply. Much deeper than any other old wound on her body. She felt that she would rather lose her other eye than have the two of them cry ever again.

If they saw her dead, they’d likely cry.

She began to cry from just the thought of it.

If they saw her like this…

If they saw her.

A horrifying thought came into her mind.

These oni had barged into her home. Currently, they were looking for her. Even if she somehow managed to survive by hiding like a coward for the next few days, there was a chance that the two of them would come home.

Then what would happen?

She killed a family during her time in the war. They would see this as a fair exchange for what she had done.

They would kill them.

Her children would die.

She would be a coward who not only couldn't do a single thing during the war, but a coward who let her children die.

No, more importantly, these intruders would kill her children. The children she loved seeing every day. The children she smiled and laughed with. The children she raised into her own.

They would die.

A singular thought came into her head.

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, as long as you keep moving forward and learn from it!

Her tears quickly dried.

A new emotion swelled up within her.

Despite not having children that she herself had given birth to, she understood the emotions of a mother.

Those two had a hand in giving her this understanding.

It all became clear to her.

There was an oni opening the closet door, mentioning how they believe she might be within.

As they opened it, two fingers were shoved into the side of their jaw. They held their mouth as blood came gushing out at a rapid rate, before their neck was snapped under a foot altogether.

Oni: [H-Hey! That’s…]

Inkra: [Yeah. I’m the woman you’re looking for. I’ll let you know one thing. I did kill some oni before, and I’m not exactly happy about it. For that, I’ll at least offer my apologies.]

Oni: [You bitch! You’re saying that right after you-]

Inkra: [You seem to have a misunderstanding here. I’m not proud of what I did back then. But this? This little scenario happening right now? I assume you’d have no problem threatening my children as well, right? That’s something that I’m not exactly going to let slide.]

She was not depressed like she had been many years ago, nor was she smiling like she often was with her children. There was a monster standing in front of them. Her glare gave a frightening chill to those who had gazed upon her.

Inkra: [Come at me with all you’ve got. I’ll send you to the other side to meet your families.]

Oni: [YOU LITT-]

One of the oni charged towards her, and without even a second passing, her hand chopped their head off clean. Their head rolled as it landed on the wooden floor. The rest of the oni took a step back at the horrifying display of power.

Inkra: [Like I said, come at me with everything you’ve got. All at once. Otherwise, you stand no chance.]

She adjusted her position, and moved into the stance of her fighting style. A stance that was engraved into her memory both by her own practice, but the practice of one of her children.

Oni: [That…That stance is…]

Inkra: [I don’t have any plans on dying until my kids come home, so I’m giving it my all with this old bleeding body of mine right from the get go! Come on!]

From there, the situation within the household erupted into a much greater dilemma.

A battle that was from ages ago would now begin once again.

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In front of the gate to a large castle stood two kitsunes. Both were tall, but one was much taller. Both were muscular, but one of them had muscles that were greater. Both of them would soon begin their battle, and both of them had the same love for it.

Kōkatsu looked towards the hulking figure in front of her. Despite the display she had shown with her blades, this would be quite the difficult foe for her. Their muscles were incredible so cutting through them would prove more taxing than normal. Their figure was tall so she would likely need to jump in order to land higher attacks. None of these things should have bothered her, but they did. Kōkatsu was capable of cutting through almost anything, but there was something that had put her off. It wasn’t just something, but rather, many things.

What little clothes they wore, their unkempt hair, their stance that protected injured spots on their body likely caused by a whip, and most of all, their lock.

The answer was clear to her, but she was unsure of how to proceed. This was someone who did not deserve to be harmed.

As she gathered her thoughts, Kiyomi questioned Kōkatsu on what she was doing.

Kiyomi: [Hey! Are we fighting or not?! You’re just standing there doing nothing after saying all that stuff!]

Kōkatsu: [My bad. There was just somethin’ I had to think ‘bout. I’m good now.]

Saying this, Kōkatsu disappeared from Kiyomi’s vision. Her eyes widened in shock as she noticed the disappearance of her figure, before turning her gaze upward. Kōkatsu was flying down towards her, and using only one of her swords, she delivered a powerful blow across Kiyomi’s chest.

Kiyomi: [...hk!]

Kiyomi was blown back from the attack. Her teeth clenched together as she felt the mighty force being dealt upon her. It was clear as day from just this strike alone that Kōkatsu was a worthy foe.

As she moved back, her body had instantly moved forward in front of Kōkatsu in less than a second. As if she had been pulled straight towards the spot.

Kōkatsu: [The hell–Shit!...gh!]

A punch was sent flying towards Kōkatsu, and hit her directly in the stomach. She had tried to avoid it while in mid air, but there was not enough time to do so.

Kōkatsu: [...Damn it, the hell was that ‘bout?! I hit her hard enough that she should have been sent back a few feet, yet she moved right up close?! The hell is going on?!]

Before Kōkatsu could think about what had happened, Kiyomi quickly charged in pursuit. She attempted to strike at her in order to take the offensive, but Kōkatsu proceeded to deflect any and all shots with her katanas. Quickly unsheathing them, and then sheathing them again.

Kiyomi: [Your skills really aren’t bad. But you’re gonna need a lot more practice if you’re gonna cut me! That big slash from earlier didn’t make me bleed at all! You sure this is the right method to use?]

Kōkatsu: [...]

Kiyomi: [Oh? Going quiet all of a sudden? What’s that about?]

Kōkatsu continued to deflect the attacks coming at her. As Kiyomi raised her arm to throw a punch once again, Kōkatsu sheathed one of her blades and then quickly pulled it out again, slashing Kiyomi with a powerful upward strike. Much like before, she was thrown back from the attack, and then zipped back to Kōkatsu with a kick right after. Kōkatsu attempted to block the oncoming kick, but it had ultimately made contact with her face. She flew backwards before forcing her geta to slide into the ground.

Kiyomi: [Seriously! These attacks are way too shallow!]

Kōkatsu: [Now I get it. At least I think I do. One more time. That’s all I need to confirm it.]

Kiyomi: [Hm?]

Kōkatsu immediately dashed towards Kiyomi following her words, and tried to instigate her to attack. Kiyomi attempted another wild rush towards Kōkatsu, with Kōkatsu dancing around as punches and kicks were thrown. As Kiyomi moved a leg back to deliver a much stronger kick, Kōkatsu unsheathed one of her blades again and struck down across her chest.

The same result as before had occurred. She was sent backwards before zooming right towards Kōkatsu. A punch would soon meet her. That was what she had planned to be precise, as the punch was then stopped by the blunt side of a blade. Another zoom occurred with a gut punch coming from the side. Once again, it was stopped by a blade. Over and over, Kiyomi zipped a few centimeters left and right of Kōkatsu, sometimes directly from the middle, all the while attempting to counter the blades that met her. Kōkatsu had performed a similar trick to what she had done to the castle earlier, and moved her blades around the air so fast it had looked as though they were bending like a whip. It was now a clash of rushes between punches and kicks versus blades moving around sporadically.

Kiyomi: [...hk! Damn it! The hell is going on?!]

Kōkatsu: [’S quite the powerful matōki ability. For someone of yer build, it would work real well.]

Kiyomi: [...! You mean…You-]

Kōkatsu: [Yep. I figured it out pretty easily. The first hit was pretty odd, the second made some more sense, but that third one was on purpose. Yer ability is to counter whatever you're hit by, right? Pretty scary honestly. Too bad I'm the type of person who likes to challenge things head on! So? Now what do ya wanna do, Muscletsune? We’re gonna be in this loop for quite some time now till one of us gives up!]

Kiyomi: [Heh! So be it! That just makes things more interesting!]

Kōkatsu: [Now that’s what I like to hear!]

The two continued to clash with one another at incredible speeds. The sounds of hard fists meeting with metal rang in the air repeatedly as their attacks met each other. The battle changed from a much more normal duel into a competition of stamina. As they continued to collide, Kiyomi once again spoke to Kōkatsu.

Kiyomi: [Hey, you ever heard of Michopa?]

Kōkatsu’s smile grew as she asked the same question she had asked the guards within the castle for what felt like forever.

Kōkatsu: [A kitsune folklore tale, ‘bout a mighty kitsune woman who was rebuked by many. Despite what they said to her, she continued to help humans. No matter the cost, no matter what it meant, she helped them. She acted as a mother, a sibling, a lover, a friend to many. Whatever they desired, she provided. She even freed a large amount of slaves, tellin’ the people in charge that both the slaves they owned and the people themselves were on equal grounds. Even if she was made fun of, those she assisted felt that they were forever in her debt.]

Kiyomi’s eyes widened as she heard Kōkatsu recall the tale. Finally, there was finally someone else who had known about it. She could finally speak about such a legendary woman with someone who understood.

Kiyomi: [Yes! Exactly! She’s the greatest out there! She might be real, she might not be! None of that matters! Whether her tale is true or not isn’t what really matters! It’s her actions that matter!]

Kōkatsu: [Ho? And what ‘bout her actions excite you all that much?]

Kiyomi: [You should know why yourself, given you mentioned that you care about your children the most and how you’re the “Mother of All”! I bet someone, somewhere out there is just like her! They’ll come find me, and they’ll be Michopa for me!]

As she said this, Kōkatsu began to slip up. Her words rang out within her head.

They’ll come find me, and they’ll be Michopa for me!

Kōkatsu felt those words ringing inside her brain. Mother of All was her title. With how she and Kaoru treated this title, along with the very dream she had, it was almost as if she embodied Michopa herself. In fact, she had known about such a tale since she had been young, and it was a part of what shaped her into the powerful kitsune she was today.

She looked back at Kiyomi.

She looked towards her neck once more.

Kōkatsu’s eyes started to soften as she saw it.

As these thoughts played out within her head–

Kiyomi: [...Ow!]

Kōkatsu: [...! Shit!]

Without noticing. Kōkatsu had forgotten to turn her blades and had injured the girl’s hands, leaving a small scratch on both of them that began to slowly release blood. As the injury occurred, a counterattack was once again sent towards Kōkatsu. However, she did not make a single attempt to block it and took the full force of it to her stomach. A loud creak echoed as the fist moved into Kōkatsu's gut.

Kiyomi: [Just so you know, depending on the scale of the injury, it'll also heighten the strength of my–]

She paused as she had noticed what had happened. Kōkatsu did not block. She did not dodge. She allowed the hit to connect.

Kiyomi: [What? Why’d she stop? It would have added more power to my attack, sure, but couldn’t her blades handle that? They cut parts of the castle easily. So why did she decide to take that? Did she figure out something regarding my counters that I don’t know about?]

The two of them stood there, silently for a few seconds before Kiyomi spoke again.

Kiyomi: [Hey! Explain yourself! You could have countered that, right? Why didn’t you?!]

Kōkatsu did not respond. She merely casted her eyes down, the bangs of her hair creating a shadow that loomed over them.

Kōkatsu: [My slip up injured you, didn’t it?]

Kiyomi: [Yeah. But that’s why we’re fighting, ri–]

A sudden realization came into Kiyomi’s head. She thought back to every attack she had received. The descending slash, the upward slice, the quick downward attack. Even the counter attacks to her own, it all became clear.

It was evident that Kōkatsu was an expert at using swords. If she wanted to, she likely could have cut Kiyomi multiple times. Her expertise however also helped her excel in another area. The art of fighting with a sword, without injuring the foe. Every attack she had thrown at Kiyomi was merely with force alone. There had not been a single intent to cut her down. This also explained her current style, as sheathing and unsheathing the sword allowed her to focus on speed more than power. An advantage such as that was both important in dealing with counter attacks, but also in negating the damage behind her strikes.

Kiyomi: [Why…Why aren’t you attacking me seriously?! I’m an enemy! You could easily cut me down, couldn’t you?! If that castle was nothing to you, if making a pattern on someone’s clothes who wasn’t even in your direction was nothing to you, then how am I a greater feat?!]

Kōkatsu continued to remain silent.

Kiyomi: [ANSWER ME!]

Kōkatsu slowly raised her head, her eyes beginning to look sad. She raised an arm and pointed to Kiyomi’s stance.

Kōkatsu: [You’re protecting your face and stomach, are you not?]

Kiyomi: [Yeah?! What does that have to do with anything?!]

Kōkatsu: [You might be acting like they aren’t there, but I can see them. Plain as day. Scars.]

Kiyomi’s sweat moved down her face upon hearing Kōkatsu’s statement. She had realized what Kōkatsu was focused on, but decided to keep her head in the battle at hand instead.

Kiyomi: [These…are just some old battle scars! It’s nothing! Let’s continue!]

Kōkatsu: [The lock.]

Kiyomi: [Huh?]

Kōkatsu raised her finger even higher, and a look of fear started to grow on Kiyomi’s face.

Kōkatsu: [The lock. There. The one on your neck. That isn’t something one would normally wear.]

Kōkatsu’s bright orange eyes then met with the girl’s pitch black gaze. She could see everything within Kiyomi’s eyes.

Kōkatsu: [How long have you been a slave?]

Kiyomi: [...]

She hesitated to answer. There was far too much that had happened in order for her to speak. However, Kōkatsu had shown sympathy for her. She was the only person ever to do so. Not a single one of the guards, no one else had been this kind to her. Somewhere deep in the girl’s heart, she mustered up the courage to speak.

Kiyomi: [...Ten years.]

Kōkatsu: [...How old are you?]

She struggled to answer. She was worried about what Kōkatsu's reaction would be. However, after a brief moment, she quietly spoke.

Kiyomi: [..........Fifteen.]

Normally, Kōkatsu would have made a jab at her. If this were a light hearted scenario, she would likely say Ya sure don’t look fifteen! Yahahaha! However, there was a much different reaction.

Sounds of metal clinking could be heard as Kōkatsu shook her blades in anger. Her teeth began to show as she bit on her cheeks. A dog-like growling sound started to form in her throat. Her veins started to protrude against her hands as they clutched the hilts of the sheathed katanas she was holding.

It disgusted her. There were things in the past that disgusted her, but this was far greater than any other. For the first time, Kōkatsu experienced a true feeling of disgust. Not to the cowering girl in front of her, but disgust to those responsible.

If Kiyomi failed to cooperate, it would be clear what would happen.

Kōkatsu: [...A child. They chose to do this to a goddamn child. They’re making a fucking child question if they should even deserve to live!]

She did not need to learn what had happened to Kiyomi. It was all the same among them. She had never experienced what slavery had felt like, nor did she know others who had been in that scenario. But she read about it, she heard about it, she saw it.

There were slaves of different races, each providing something for others. Even humans were used as slaves for some. But there were two races who had it the worst out of all.

Elves had been one of them. The other however…

…was Kitsunes.

Kōkatsu was never a slave, but she saw them on occasion in her hometown, as well as when she traveled. She saw them being sold, mistreated, abused, and worse. She always liked to put on a happy face, but even if she tried, the only thing she felt inside was anger.

She remembered the little fox girl who loved to perform. The fox girl would always make sure the slaves were smiling and singing along with her. On occasion, the fox girl would make jokes and enjoy seeing them laugh. The girl would even invite them on stage with her. When they were ridiculed by their owners, the girl would start an uproar with the audience, allowing for such a thing to happen just for the one time.

Kōkatsu stood there in anger. This was still a common occurrence? What a joke. When will anyone learn to live together and not to treat each other as unequals? There was no race that was greater than another. There never has been. Yet many acted as though they were the superior amongst all. One race may excel in one area more than others, but that does not make them kings of the world.

Kōkatsu’s goal from the very beginning had been to start a family of her own. But she was still unsure of what to do as a goddess. If she got such a role, would she only focus on building the family she had through power?

No.

It was all clear now.

She had a reason to become a goddess.

And with this, she knew what to do.

Kōkatsu: [...Kiyomi.]

Kiyomi: [...Y-Yes…?]

Kōkatsu: [I’m guessin’ if ya don’t get the job done, they’ll either kill or torture ya. Ya don’t need to answer that, I already know it. So we’re gonna do somethin’ different.]

Kōkatsu looked back up at her. There were many times where Kōkatsu’s gaze had been fierce, but now more than ever, it was as though a monster truly did form on the battlefield.

Kiyomi: [...]

Kōkatsu: [I’m gonna use an actual technique with my swords. If ya end up counterin’ me, then I’ll let ya hit me. I'll be dead and buried in an instant. Otherwise, if I win, I got somethin’ that ya’ll be forced to do. Understand?]

The girl was nervous. She did not enjoy the words Kōkatsu presented, but she prepared herself for what would come next. She moved back into her stance, only trembling now.

Kiyomi: [...Y-Yes.]

Kōkatsu: [Good.]

Kōkatsu slowly crossed her arms to grab the opposite swords once again. This time however, she arched her back forwards while spreading her legs out. As she did this, an absurd amount of matōki rose from her body creating an aura. The earth around them trembled as she flexed every muscle in her body.

To Kiyomi, she was unsure what she saw within Kōkatsu and her aura. It had seemed like that of a mighty spirit of a fox forming behind her. No, perhaps a wolf? No, something far greater, like a tiger. Maybe even that was wrong, it was a beast. It was unknown, but it was horrifying and incredibly powerful. Just from the appearance of it alone she could tell what it was capable of. And then it became visible. The true identity of the beast. It was all of them mixed into one. A fox, a wolf, a tiger, a dragon, an ancient god-like spirit. Everything had appeared at once into a new creature.

Kōkatsu: [Sly Sword Style…Two Swords…]

Kōkatsu moved one leg back, before putting pressure into it right after. She launched herself forward towards Kiyomi in the blink of an eye. It was as if everything around her had become pure white, with only a visage of Kōkatsu’s face breaking through the empty void. Kiyomi attempted to gasp, but it was cut short.

Before she had even known, she could no longer see anything and Kōkatsu had been behind her with her arms in the air, forming an X with her body.

Kōkatsu: [...Moonlit Fox Hunt.]

It was a powerful strike. An incredibly powerful one. Had it made contact, it likely would have cleaved through Kiyomi’s body in an instant.

However, Kōkatsu’s target was not her body. It was in two separate areas. One, the very consciousness of Kiyomi, which was successfully knocked. Then there was the other area, the area she planned on cutting.

What now rested on the floor was not only the sleeping Kiyomi, but a cut collar with a lock on it.

It was rare she used her swords. It was even more rare for her to use a technique with them. However, there was one thing that was certain above all else.

Kōkatsu the Almighty was a master of the blade, even at the young age of eighteen.

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The girl woke up on the ground after a few minutes. There was no pain despite being knocked out. It felt as though not much had changed. For some reason, she felt as though a heavy weight that rested on her was now taken care of. She did not know why, as she knew her punishment that would come soon would likely be horrible as it had always been.

She looked to her side to see–

Kiyomi: [...! My collar! Oh no! I need to put that back o–]

Before she could reach it, a geta stepped over and crushed the lock under its weight. Kiyomi followed the leg that accompanied it and looked back up to Kōkatsu who was staring down at her.

Now she remembered what happened. There would be something in return for her if Kiyomi lost. Thus she knew that there was likely a horrible punishment from someone else entirely that would soon fol–

Kiyomi: [Huh?]

Kiyomi looked down at the cloth covering her cleavage. She had felt that there was some more air that pushed into it, but she had assumed it was just her imagination when she woke up. But now she noticed what it was.

On the very side of her bra-like cloth was a symbol.

A flower with nine tails.

Before she could acknowledge what had happened, a pair of arms had moved under her and picked her up. The arms did not shake or bend while holding her. They merely took the large girl upwards with great ease.

Kiyomi: [Huh?! W-Wait-I don’t know what–]

Kōkatsu: [Every person deserves the right to be free. If the freedom ya once had is taken from ya, then I’ll return it. The job of the Mother of All is to help all lost children, big or small, younger or older, no matter their circumstance. My condition for ya is simple…]

Kōkatsu looked towards Kiyomi in her arms. A smile rose on Kōkatsu’s face as their eyes connected.

Kōkatsu: [...Become my daughter.]

Kiyomi did not know how to answer. This was the first time she had been accepted. This person barely knew her, and yet they already loved her. Why? Why was she capable of that?

Kiyomi: [...Aren’t…Aren’t you and all of the others going to fight Daroma? What if you lose?]

Kōkatsu: [Dummy. Do ya really have such little hopes for yer mom?]

Her words warmed Kiyomi’s heart. At first, she believed there was not a chance they would win. But now, seeing just the kindness within Kōkatsu’s heart, it was as if that chance was flipped to the complete opposite end.

She thought back to the folklore story she loved so much. Maybe Michopa did exist. Maybe she wasn't just a legend. Maybe that very woman was now holding her, like a mother carrying her child.

For the first time, a genuine smile filled with tears began to form on Kiyomi’s face. She tried to wipe her tears while her nose also began to sniffle, before responding.

Kiyomi: [Nope! Because you’re the strongest!]

Kōkatsu: [Yahahaha! Now that’s the spirit! I’ll bring ya inside with me. Kaoru, who just so happens to be my first daughter, is a top of the line healer! Speaking of which, I guess that makes ya my second daughter. Ya sure are special, aren’t ya? Guess that also means Kaoru and ya are siblings now, but that’s alright. The two of ya will get along just fine. But it sure is great–]

Kōkatsu continued to walk, carrying her new daughter in her arms and speaking with her about her new life that would now start.

On that day, the Kōkatsu Family only grew stronger with a brand new member to it.

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