The Tale Of Kitsuna

Waking up to footsteps heading my way, I sighed mentally. I didn't move from my resting position under the tree.

"Are you sure the fox won't do anything to us?" Brenda asks, walking closer to me.

"Yeah, don't worry," Apricot said, running closer. When she was close enough, she jumped on me.

"Apricot, what are you doing jumping on her!?" Sirone shouted.

"Seriously, one day, and your this bold!" I said, looking at her, baffled that she really jumped on me.

"But common Kitsu, your so fluffy," Apricot said, digging her face in my fur.

Hearing her call me made me remember what happened yesterday when she woke up to my horror.

(Crazy headed barracks yesterday)

While lying on my back with Apricot still bear hugging me. I started to fidget with the ball Kayda gave me.

'How does this work. She said it's for mana control, but how?' I thought, starting to push my mana into the ball, and to my surprise, it rejected my mana completely. Well, almost completely, I could feel that a bit went through, but less than 1% of what I initially tried to use.

'Damn, I suck at this. On another note, I hope Apricot will let me go, or I will be late to treat Rachel.' I thought, looking at the peaceful Apricot.

'I guess it's fine. My squad is more important than her, anyways.' I thought, unknowingly having a smile any parent will know very well.

An hour and a half later, of fusing my mana into the ball. I finally got more than 10% of my mana through. 

"Fucken, finally I hit the 2 digits, Haah," I said with my normal voice forgetting the sleeping Apricot on me.

"Mmmm," Starting to hear and feeling Apricot stirring awake. I felt all my blood drain from my face.

"Shit," I said, looking down at Apricot, meeting her groggy eyes.

"Mmm, Kitsu, what are you doing here?" She asks, confused, rubbing her eyes.

"Well, little doggie. I wanted to come and check if the dumbos were back, but I found you having a nightmare. Being the nice person I am, I came to comfort you but was dragged into bed by you." I explain calmly. Seeing the position she was in. She started to blush.

"Wha...Wha... I am sorry, commander." She said while jumping away from me.

"Don't worry too much about it. We will have a proper conversation later about this. Those two bimbos are on their way anyways." I said, standing up stretching myself out.

"I understand you may punish me as you want," Apricot said, confusing me. Looking at her, I saw she was sitting on the ground seiza in front of me, looking down to the floor.

"Get up. I am not going to punish you ever," I said before smirking and changing into my fox form.

"Or will I?" I said in a menacing voice. Hearing the sudden difference in my voice, her head hot up, looking at me directly in the eyes.

"Who are!?" She shouted in surprise.

"Oi, no shouting," I said swing my tail, hitting her over the head.

"That's you, Kitsuna?" 

"Yes, I am a fox," I explain, looking at the entrance. Seeing the handle moving, I added. "Don't tell them, okay. Just tell them I am Kitsunas pet fox Nova for now and came to check on you guys."

"I understand," Apricot said with sparkling eyes looking at my tail.

"See you tomorrow," I said, walking to the door that opened up, revealing Sirone and Brenda.

"Aah, the fox is in our barracks," Brenda said, surprised, pulling Sirone behind her.

(Present)

'Actually, why am I so open to her. Is it because of what she been through, or am I falling... no, that's not it. I will have to think about it later, however, in Kayda's case. I actually know why I am open to her, but that also sounds too far fetch for 2 days. Whatever, I don't want to overthink things anymore.' I thought, annoyed at my own thought. Feeling Apricot pulling my fur, I looking at her, narrowing my eyes.

"Haha, you guys going to suffer today," I said with a menacing voice while making a dome of ice around us, covering the tree and leaving enough space for our little spar we will be having. 

'I am so happy I can control my ice so much better if I am in an icy area.' I thought, looking at the dome where only lights get through.

Looking back at Brenda and Sirone, I realized that they were looking at me with wide eyes and an open jaw. "You two, you are going to catch some flies like that." I joked.

"It can Talk!?" They both screamed in horror.

"Oi, what was that!" I said, annoyed. Standing up, I shook Apricot off me, earning me a small yelp and transform into my human form.

"Young Miss!?" They both shouted again in surprise.

"Did I not tell you guys not to scream like that yesterday?" I said, walking closer to them.

"Actually, you didn't," Apricot said, standing next to me.

"I didn't? Oh well, just remember for the future, don't scream around me, my ears sėnsɨtɨvė." I said, pointing at my ears on my head. Stretching out my hand, I took out 3 sets of restrainers.

"Put these on. Our training starts now," I said, walking away from them.

"I wanted to ask this yesterday, but how are you going to train us when you're inexperience," Brenda asked.

"Put on the restrainers," I said, getting annoyed at her question.

"Fine," Brenda said, putting them on.

"Brenda, your correct. I am inexperienced, but when did I actually tell you I will be teaching you things? I told Sirone and Apricot I would help them learn things, but for you, I can't teach you anything." I said

"That's true. You never told me specific you will be teaching something. So why am I here? For teamwork?" Brenda said, activating her restrainers.

"In a way, yes, that's why your here, but the main point is..." I said before using Flash step to her side kicking her. I finish saying. "...to boost your base stats."

"Big sis!?" Sirone said she was about to run toward her, but I appear in front of her.

"Don't get distracted so easily, Sirone," I said, chopping her on the head. Feeling something from behind me, I jumped up, dodging 3 humanoid puppets with a sword in each hand.

"You should watch out for friendly fire Apricot."

"I know," She said, smirking. Realizing I was misjudging her actions. I looked back at Sirone to see she was gone and was next to Brenda, who was still on the ground. 

"Ooh, you used your 4th puppet to take Sirone away, not bad," I said, remembering she can actually use 4 puppets at a time from yesterday's training with Trinity.

"5 seconds. It took you 5 seconds to realize that." Apricot said, still smirking.

"Tsk, whatever, it's the first time I will be fighting against a puppeteer. Anyways you should have felt it, yes? Those restrainers take all your level stats away from you except the amount of mana you have," I said, a bit annoyed at Apricot.

"Yeah, I figured. I could see you attack me, but my body couldn't react in time," Brenda said, from her sitting position next to Sirone, who was healing her.

"Did I break a rib or something? It didn't feel like that." I said.

"Oh no, nothing is broken. This is just how Sirone is," Brenda said, shrugging.

"Oi, Sirone, you cant waste your mana like that. You are going to use a bow for now until I can get you a gun." I said, taking a bow and arrows out of my storage.

"Yes, ma'am," Sirone said, bowing.

"Kitsuna!" I said, throwing her temp weapon at her.

"My bad, Kitsuna," Sirone said, bowing down again.

"Whatever, Brenda, what's the lengths of your katana," I said, looking at Brenda.

"It is 186 cm long. 1 cm thick, and 42 cm wide. Why?" Brenda said, taking out her katana.

"Hmm, the length is fine, but the rest is a no-no," I said, making a katana the same length as hers, but this one was only 3 mm thick and 3 cm wide. Looking at the katana, I said. "I will only use this katana, seeing as everyone here has some reach, and you guys are only using your base stats. I will try and master my odachi."

"I don't know if you're arrogant or not," Brenda said, confused.

"I am just going to show you guys that levels aren't everything. If your base is good, you will over show everyone on the same level." Pointing my sword at them, I added. "Come, let us see if you guys can force me to use more than my odachi."

"Now that is arrogance," Brenda said, running at me.

"Yes, oh, Apricot, there are about 100 puppets behind you with 2 weapons each," I said, blocking Brenda's sword with ease. 

"When did you?" Sirone said, seeing all the puppets behind Apricot.

"Don't get distracted by things like that, Sirone," I said. Swinging my odachi, I pushed Brenda's back towards Sirone.

"Sirone move!?" Brenda shout while pushing her sword into the ground, trying to stop her from hitting Sirone.

Taking my eyes off them, I looked at the 4 puppets coming my way.

"You really don't wait for anyone to get ready, do you," Apricot said with outreached hands connected to the cables.

"Pff, like I care," I said, taking a step forwards before swinging my katana with one hand downwards, cutting one puppet in half. Changing the direction of the swing to the right cutting another puppet in half.

"I don't understand how are you cutting them so easily!?" Apricot said in distress.

"They are only metal Apricot. That is the reason I want you to use human bodies later. For now, try to infuse the puppets themselves with your mana that will make it harder to cut." I said, cutting another puppet.

"Damn, you really are a prodigy to have so much strength without a class," Brenda said from behind, bringing her blade down at me.

Turning while dodging her strike with ease, I smirked at her.

"You think? I feel more like I am fighting babies." I joked, stepping on her blade in the ground.

"You really are looking down on us," Brenda said, annoyed, trying to take her katana back.

"In a way, yes. But you can feel it right. You're getting weakened already, right?" I said, jumping back, dodging an arrow and another puppet. "Finally, you shot an arrow, Sirone."

"Can you please not talk like that," Sirone said with a hint of anger.

"Hmm, why not? I need to show you guys what I want this squad to be like in the future. Also, reincarnations will be like me but with a lot more arrogance. If you are getting mad at me now, that ain't good for the future." I said, jumping away from Brenda again.

"Be like what?" Apricot ask.

"To look down on any enemy, you come across in the future, of course. When I am done with you guys, you would think the concept of classes means nothing." I said with a maniac smirk.

"Haha, I actually like the sound of that!?" Brenda shouted, running at me with a smile on her face. 

Looking at her with a deadpan look, I flash step behind her, kicking her to the ground.

"What did I say about shouted?" I said, annoyed.

"Sorry, hehe," Brenda said awkwardly.

"Whatever," I said, kicking her away again.

"Oof."

(20 minutes later)

"You lasted longer than I thought you would. 57 full swings from Brenda. 27 Puppets from Apricots, while I destroyed 25 of them. 97 arrows from Sirone. Sirone, I am quite surprised you shot so many. However, 64 of them weren't even near hitting me, but it's a good start." I said, looking down at Brenda, unconscious at my feet, with a smile on her face. Taking my eyes off her, I looked at Apricot, who was out of mana, and Sirone that was on the verge of passing out from exhaustion.

'Man I am so mean making Sirone also run around.' I thought.

"You guys can rest now. I am going to go and join Amari's magic lesson for now, until this afternoon. When we will fight again." I said, stabbing my odachi in the ground.

"Tell Brenda just to test out this sword later. It is made out of about 2000 mana of mine, so it should be stronger than her Katanas metal but a lot lighter.." I said before flash stepping towards Kayda them through a door size hole I made in the dome.