• Zabuza stared at Kirisaki for a while. Then he sat down hard on the hard ground. “So what your telling me” he said , his voice calm “Is that that… THING… was NOT a demon, but some kind of incarnation of fear?” “Yes.” “and that there are five of these in all?” “Yes.” “and you control these things?” “No.” “Oh. That’s a relief. There are five insane creatures controlling fear, pain, and who knows what else all wrapped up in that tiny little teenage body of yours, and you don’t have any control over when they come out?” “well, they only come out when their element is in abundance in the atmosphere. There has to be a lot of fear swarming around before Fear can come out. Also, I only have Fear and Sorrow. Pain, Wrath, and Death are all scattered around, my father used them to protect me, but then they got lost or something.” “OH WELL ISNT THIS JUST FINE AND WONDERFULL!!!” cried Zabuza. “LET’S ALL GO AND RUN HOME AND LOCK THE DOORS, BECAUSE SOMEBODY WENT AND UNLEASHED A PLAGUE OF ANGER PAIN AND DEATH ALL OVER THE EARTH!!! MAYBE WE SHOULD TRY TO APPEASE THEM AND GIVE A SACRAFICE OR SOMETHING!!!!!” “No….” Kirisaki said slowly. “A sacrifice wouldn’t really work…. Besides, they’re docile for now… they probably won’t awaken until I do. That’s what Water says, anyway.” Zabuza stopped tearing his hair out and paused. “Who?” he asked. “The Water Elemental. My Aunt.” “Oh.” Zabuza replied, as if this was a given. Well, im going to go insane if you mention one more weird thing, so maybe we should get off this topic, hmm?” Kirisaki shrugged. The Kitsune behind him spoke “um, how about we talk about something like… me? I never get talked about. And I think he means it about going insane, Kiri-kun.” “Don’t call me that. I HATE it when you call me that.” Kirisaki grumbled. “If you start calling me that again, Im going to start calling you ‘fox-freak’ or something.” The Kitsune ignored him, and walked over to Zabuza, extending a dainty, but clawed, hand to him in greeting. “Hi! I’m Akiko Kitsune, Red-fox clan. What’s your name?” but he wasn’t listening. He was entranced by the tail that was swooshing just above her head, in a snakelike pattern. “Hey…” she said “I’m talking to you. It’s not nice to stare at people when they talk to you. Answer my question.” She snapped her fingers under his eyes. “Wha… oh. Um… I’m Zabuza… I’m a demon hunter… um…. tail???” Akiko sighed. She seemed to get this reaction a lot from humans. “Please stop looking at my tail, or I’m going to burn you.” When he didn’t stop, she lit a flame in her palm and smashed it into Zabuza’s face.

    One hour later… they were talking in a bar, Zabuza carefully avoiding looking at Akiko’s tailtip and holding a piece of cold metal to his face. Kirisaki was thrilled, having been in that shrine for the past couple of years. Kitsune was trying to keep the innkeeper from seeing her ears, which poked out of the top of her scalp like twin flames. “So…” Kirisaki began, but Zabuza waved his attempt for conversation off. “You…” he said, looking at Kirisaki, “are the son of the one and only Shadow Elemental, a being above humans who kept Wrath, Fear, Pain, Sorrow, and Death in check and balance…” Kirisaki nodded. “and YOU…” he said carefully, pointing to Akiko, “are a Red Fox clan Kitsune who can use fire, and will gladly singe my eyebrows at the slightest provocation.” Kitsune smiled sweetly. “I’ll singe more than your eyebrows, if you keep referring to me as a Kitsune in public where people can hear and try to skin me for my priceless and beautiful fur.” Zabuza shrank back, apologizing. There was an awkward silence, after which Kirisaki said “Im going to go now. I’ve got to find Water again, and I’m not going to find her in a cup of sake. Akiko is coming, too, since she’s my assigned guardian from the Red Fox clan. You can just go your own way, but you’re welcome to join us if you like.” Zabuza stood up. He picked up his cloak and fastened it on, along with his sword belt. “A Kitsune and a son of the Shadows…” he mused. “This is just too good to pass up. I’m going to need to stay with you to research this. I’m writing a book on all the strange things I find… and this is, so far, the strangest.” He said. “Let’s go then… I’m coming with you.”