The Fox, The Dog, and The Bird pt.1

The Fox, The Dog, and The Bird Pt 1
Tags: L5R, Hetero, Handjob, Kitsune

“This is it?” She asked.

Anji looked at his travel partner. The little woman, youthful everywhere but those intense eyes, wasn’t all that she seemed.

“This is where she should be,” Anji said as they approached a guarded wall.

“Should be?” She said, “You don’t respect our time, ronin?”

“That isn’t what I mean,” Anji said, “Excuse me, spirit.”

She was wearing a deep blue, emblazoned with the mon of the crab, with a small difference. Her hair was long, but kept up. Her skin was smooth, unnaturally smooth. He was never sure of her age. Her height made her seem young, she was svelte and petite. Those eyes though, they told a story that couldn’t be dated.

“Use my name,” she said, and he couldn’t tell if she was angry.

“Yes, Ryuko.”

“Halt,” Said a long-haired guard. The man carried himself with an odd amount of grace, considering the armor he was wearing. It was the mark of a crane, more than any mon or style. “This is the land of the crane, present your papers, and state your reason for travel.”

Anji dug into his bag, and looked for the writ. It was there, but he wasn’t known for his neatness.

“We come in the name of the champion of the Crab,” Anji said as he turned over this and that, “We are… we are here to deliver a message to…”

He was getting flustered. He wasn’t the kind of man that walked in polite society. If he was, he wouldn’t be a ronin in the first place, they wouldn’t call him The Dog.

“Papers, Crab,” The Crane guard said while coming forward, flanked by two peasant guardsmen, “And your name.”

“Brother,” Ryuko said.

When he looked over to her, she was batting her eyes, and looked like a lost child, “I thought you said the Crane were soft, in speech and in touch.”

She spoke just loud enough that the Crane could hear, and Anji counted himself lucky that the man’s sword stayed home. Though he kept that cool exterior, Anji could read a warrior’s movements, see when he wanted blood.

“I won’t ask again,” The guard said.

“I am Yasuki Anji,” Anji said, “My papers are here, somewhere.”

Ryuko gasped, “Oh, those papers, brother?”

She reached deep into her sleeve, and pulled out the small scrolled up parchment. With a coy smile, she reached it out to the guard.

The man snatched it away, and unrolled it to read.

“You dropped it some paces back,” Ryuko said with a sheepish expression,” I didn’t know it was important.”

“Right,” Anji said, as he watched the guard.

“You can pass,” the guard said with an undertone of disappointment, “Don’t cause any trouble in our city, remember that your lands are that way.”

“Understood,” Anji said as he put an arm around Ryuko, “Come sister, I have work to do.”

The doors were opened, and the pair passed inside. The lands of the crane were beautiful, even this close to the Crab border. Every tree looked like it belonged to a tended garden, and every building was of expert craftsmanship. It was like they designed their city in defiance of their neighbors.

“You should have seen the look on your face,” Ryuko said.

He looked at her, and she was grinning from ear to ear..

“We could have been killed,” Anji said. The crab and the crane don’t exactly get along. Though Anji was sure randomly killing a crab courier wouldn’t go well in those courts the crane loved so much.

“What is life without a little excitement,” Ryuko replied as they walked the street, “Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here would we?”

He couldn’t argue that. He was in crane lands, pretending to be a crab, and all in the name of passion. His heart took him on this path, and his heart would keep him focused. Even if that meant forsaking the celestial order that had already forsaken him.

“When do we meet her?” Ryuko asked. There was something in her voice as she said, a tone of excitement.

“They should be in town.”

“I know,” Ryuko said, “When?”

“If we follow the road,” Anji said, “We should reach the manor. They have a small court there, a place for courtiers to meet before going South.”

“A replacement for what they lost,” Ryuko said as if he originally bothered her with the question.

“Something like that.”

They made their way through the city, it growing busier as they went. The manor was nearly a castle in its own right, though admittedly one that wouldn’t stand up to any sort of assault. Not that Anji imagined storming crane castles.

Guards were posted outside, but a quick explanation got him through the door. They climbed the stairs together. Ryuko seemed at home here, her hands folded in front of her, her head up tall. On the other hand, his spirit was wavering, he wasn’t sure he could go through with this.

They walked into a wide room, the sound of plucked strings bouncing off the walls. It was just there under the drone of conversation, and the occasional burst of laughter.

The room was colorful, though light blue dominated. A man sat among pillows, wearing the vibrant gold of the lion. He seemed twice as wide as the two women flanking him. A man in green was silent in the corner, glaring at a woman in black with a mask across her face.

The conversation died down, and all eyes turned to Anji and Ryuko.

Anji cleared his throat. He had to remember his manners. Among ronin, his sword and his skill were the mark of his status. Here, there were different rules. They lived by the pen, and it was a blade just as deadly.

“I am Yasuki Anji, of house Ida. I come on behalf of the Yasuki family, I seek an audience with Doji Yoriko on behalf of the Crab clan.”

The whole time he was speaking, no one stopped moving. They were like small leaves, passing by each other, twirling in patterns he couldn’t understand. Some kept looking at him, others kept their eyes conspicuously clean. He couldn’t find her among the shifting faces. She should have been easy to find, but instead he felt a climbing fear, what if she wasn’t here?

“Calm,” Ryuko whispered, “Focus.”

Anji took a long breath, and then saw her. Hair that threatened to brush the floor. White skin that matched her pale hair. She was pristine. He could say from experience now, her beauty even cast shadows over spirits.

She came forward, and he saw something in her eyes. Did she recognize him? If she did, then this farce was over just as soon as it began.

“Mighty Crab,” Yoriko said, bowing slightly, “Your boisterous charge has lead you astray, this court is no place for your message. Please, tell your daimyo his words miss their mark.”

Anji looked to Ryuko. The little woman was staring at Yoriko, those unnatural eyes focused, a small smirk at the corner of her lip. Anji needed guidance, but there was none there.

“I…” Anji’s words caught in his throat, “My message comes directly from the Crab Champion, Hida…”

“Maybe she was too quiet,” Said a man, large with short hair. Like any other crane, his skin and hair was as well tended as his stance. Even without his katana at his side, the man looked like a threat. He moved with careful steps until he was between Anji and the woman he came to meet.

“I heard her,” Anji said, “I just don’t think she understands.”

“It isn’t every day the crab labels his neighbor ignorant,” The man said.

The lion laughed, but he could feel that the whole room was laughing at him. He made a fist, remembered that drawing here was a death sentence.

“What is your name?” Anji asked.

The man flinched up, for just a moment. He wasn’t expecting that. His stance was usually fluid. It was there, but it was the wind itself. Still, those words made him turn to stone, which meant he could be shattered.

The crane opened his mouth to talk, but instead Anji heard Yoriko, “He is Daidoji Moko,” She said as she stepped forward, “He is my champion here in court. You would be blessed to meet a better artist with a blade.”

From this distance, it was hard for Anji to take his eyes off of her. She was radiant, as beautiful as crashing waves, and as dangerous for a foolish man. Even if she was just being kind to a guest in court, hearing her speak to him warmed his chest.

“Except,” Moko said, “You’re expected back south, aren’t you humble crab?”

The whole room was watching again. Anji could feel his scalp itching, as if his head was a burning iron and threatened to catch his hair aflame. There was nothing to do, she wouldn’t even listen to him. He had to leave, for now.

He turned, and took a few steps away.

“Don’t forget your guest,” Said Moko.

Anji turned and saw Ryuko, still watching Yoriko. He thought he saw a hint there, at the bottom of her kimono, a tail? He moved to her side, maybe a little too fast. In this world of observation and ingenuity, he couldn’t risk someone taking a close look at her. They might notice that spark in her eyes, the tail swishing beneath her kimono, or that her Crab Mon had a single fox tail.

“Come sister,” He said, “We have a lot to talk about.”

They made it to the inn unmolested, but Anji couldn’t help but feel like every man in the village knew what happened. They got to a room, Anji fought with the latches of his armor.

“You’re right,” Ryuko said as she sat at the small table, “She is a beautiful woman.”

“Why would you do that?” Anji said, shaking his head.

“Do what?” She asked. He didn’t like her tone of innocence.

He turned, “You sent me in there to be eaten alive. You crafted this plan, spirit. You told me you would fulfill my wish. Do I look fulfilled?”

Ryuko tilted her head, as if the new angle would help, and held it for a moment, “Not very, no.”

“I knew pretending to be Crab would be idiotic, but did you see their face when I said I was Yasuki?”

Ryuko took a deep breath, “Even a dog should remember the Crane-Crab war. History is important to the Bushi.”

“I have cursed myself,” Anji said as he struggled with his armor, “I should have trusted in myself, as I always have. Instead I asked you.”

“That’s right,” Ryuko snapped before he could continue. She sat up, and in that moment a long red tail with a white tip fluttered from up behind her, followed by seven more, “You trusted me, and I still intend to do my part, Anji. You just have to give me time. Stealing a Crane’s love is not as easy as whisking away your papers. A woman’s mind is hard to fool. Her heart on the other hand…”

Anji looked away. Ryuko was a spirit, a kitsune, a trickster. She was also beautiful, and more clever than he could hope to be on his best day. When he asked for help from the Kitsune, when he began this journey, he knew he wouldn’t succeed without her help.

“Then what do we do?” Anji asked.

Ryuko rose to her feet, her tails sweeping behind her. How they all fit under anything she wore was beyond him. Each was like the softest pillow, and was long enough to reach her head. She approached him, and and released his armor for him. It fell away, leaving him wearing a ragged shirt and blue pants.

“First,” Ryuko said, “We’re going to rest. You need to relax.”

“I was mocked in front of the woman I love,” Anji said, “I can’t relax.”

She pressed against his side, her tails came around her, soft brushes against his now bare arms. Her hand gripped his groin, cupping him as if claiming possession.

He looked down at her, and saw that she wasn’t looking at him, her eyes were somewhere distant.

“I know an excellent way to relax,” She whispered, her mouth reaching up to peck him on the chin, “If you’ll let me show you.”

“Must we?” Anji whispered. He was a man, a free one at that. He knew better than to turn away a beautiful woman. Especially when he didn’t have to pay for her company.

She put her cheek against his chest and cuddled against him, “You don’t, not this time. Just let me keep you warm tonight, and I will consider it a payment toward the greater sum.”

Unfortunately, Ryuko did not come free.

Anji untied his pants and let them fall.

“Just beautiful,” Ryuko said, then took a quick breath through her nose, “A woman like her knows how to trash a heart, she enjoys it. It is the gift Doji gave her. She would murder you red dog, though there would be no blood to speak of.”

She squeezed his chest, and took a deep sniff of chest and arms, “I can’t let that happen.”

“We should lay down,” Anji whispered. Her attention had an odd effect on him. He didn’t know if he liked it. It was like feeling the sun hit you on a perfect day, and thinking the sun was shining just for you.

They went to the beds, and Anji took off his shirt before getting under the covers. Ryuko went and snuffed the candles in the room. With each new patch of darkness, he swore he could see her clearer. Her eyes almost glowed in the dark, and her body swayed over to him. She kneeled beside the bed, and unwrapped her kimono. As it opened, she slid, tails and all, in beside him.

“We will succeed,” Ryuko said as her skin touched his. Her hand slid down his chest, over his stomach, until it touched his undergarments.

Anji didn’t answer. What could he say, besides thank you? He had murmured it so many times before, and it did not change what she did.

Her fingers ran over his private places, sketching his outline. She didn’t look at him, not even as he got hard, or when he turned his head to watch her.

She slipped a hand inside, skin to skin. She had silk hands, unblemished by work or worry. They gripped him, and Anji took in a deep breath. Ryuko knew what to do, better than any woman he had ever met. She slid over his length, up and down, to him a mindless motion that she paid the utmost attention.

“We will capture her,” Ryuko said, as he grew thick in her hands.

“Yes, Ryuko,” Anji whispered.

“I will see her in your home,” Ryuko said, as if reciting from a letter, “She will call you dear, and you will raise beautiful children. She will know of your love.”

Her pace quickened, and Anji grew tense under her touch. It was hard while she was talking, that sweet voice, with words filled with malice, made him feel odd. Before he met her, he didn’t think of it being rude to reach satisfaction mid-sentence.

“Then I will have fulfilled my part of the deal,” Ryuko said as she laid her head against his chest, even as her fingers worked wildly.

Anji was at his limit, his body locked in that moment waiting for release. There was nothing he could do, he was no master, not even in the bedroom. He was just a simple animal, a ronin.

“Good boy,” Ryuko whispered, “You can rest now.”

Even as she spoke, Anji grunted as he burst, again and again, into her waiting hand. She held her palm over him, as if to collect it against that perfect skin.

“Good boy,” She whispered again. He could see her hands work next to him, cupping his seed like an expensive oil. She rubbed it between her hands.

Anji closed his eyes, and tried to think of tomorrow.

He had a long road ahead of him. It seemed like an impossible road, through and over mountains that he had never walked before. She was right about one thing, for a battle like this, a dog needed rest.