Foxfire (Nine Tails, 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

daughter. A very beautiful and
innocent daughter. They offered her as a servant in one of Inari’s
temples, and Inari gave them many blessings in return. Inari loved
the girl as if she’d given birth to her. They were constant
companions, Inari showing her favor by taking the girl with her
almost everywhere. Our father tried to seduce the girl, who
believed she would be punished if she didn’t let the favorite
messenger of her kami bed her.” Masaki cleared his throat. “He was
… neither gentle nor kind. It was rape, not seduction, and Inari
found the girl bruised and bleeding, crying in the temple and
blaming herself for the wicked thing that had been done to
her.”
    Masaki looked to Hiro, wondering if he
was going too far because he felt sadness from the young man, but
Hiro nodded for him to go on, so he continued. “Our father was old
yet not wise. Selfishness ruled him, causing him to so abuse his
kami’s favor and love. As punishment, Inari stripped him of
everything, even cutting off all nine of his tails. She said he was
not worthy of them, because a fox with nine tails should be wise
and compassionate. The tails fell to the temple floor and then
slithered to the shadows. Our father, though I don’t care to think
of him as such, was then banished. He still lives, but he keeps to
the dark places, not daring to show himself to any powerful being.
Inari’s fury was great, but after a time, we emerged. Even Inari
was surprised to find nine little fox pups in her
temple.”
    “ It just happened? Without
Inari willing it?” Hiro asked, curiosity pushing through the
sadness that had filled him when Masaki had recounted his father’s
act. He’d finished his soup, so Masaki had the next course brought
out, glad he’d found a way to spark Hiro’s interest.
    “ Yes. At times, great
emotion can make magic manifest. She’d loved our father, which made
her anger that much greater. She made us her new servants, caring
for us herself. Loving us even, letting us fill the void in her
heart.” He decided against telling Hiro that obtaining free will
was possible one day. It seemed irrelevant, now that he had Inari’s
blessing to take a true mate.
    “ What happened to the
girl?” Hiro asked, pushing his food around with his chopsticks.
“Did Inari help her?”
    Masaki took his up, choosing a piece
of fried tofu. “Inari is also the kami of fertility. This gave her
the power to … change things. She erased the violent act from the
young girl’s mind and body. Then she gave the girl to another man,
a good and loving man, as his bride, saying it was a reward for
both of them. They lived happily and had many children.”
    “ That’s good.” Hiro smiled
and ate, but soon he frowned. “Sorry to be so nosy. It ended
happily, but it’s a sad story.”
    “ I wouldn’t have told you
if I didn’t want you to know.” Masaki ate as well to reassure Hiro
the question hadn’t offended him. “I want us to get to know each
other.”
    Hiro watched him eat a moment and
asked, “So kitsune do like fried tofu? I read that
online.”
    Masaki laughed. “Yes, we love
it.”
    Hiro seemed to be eating with more
gusto now as he studied the room. “It’s fascinating, now I’m
getting used to it.”
    “ Do you feel
safe?”
    Hiro nodded, but he bit his lip, as if
thinking. “Yeah. Bit nervous though.”
    “ About me? The
yokai?”
    Hiro studied him, his emotions
fluctuating. The young man across from him experienced curiosity,
apprehension, arousal, and embarrassment all at once. “Everything.
The supernatural parts.” He drank his sake thoughtfully. “Inari
sounds kind. But I still,” he shrugged, “I don’t know. Mythology is
such a mess at times. Worries me now I know it’s all
real.”
    “ Inari is compassionate
and loving, but yes, there’s a touch of darkness in every kami. I
won’t lie to you about that.” He reached out and took Hiro’s hand
when the young man set his cup aside. “But you’re safe.