A/N- Another original series destine for yuri (girl with girl relationships).

Based in feudal Japan, the tale of a priestess and a demon. Um...the Yuki

Shrine of Kyoto Japan was not even existence in this era, but I'm making it.

:b I wish I owned it, but I don't...

WARNING- MAYBE CONTAINS SLASH, YAOI OR YURI!! This means that there's a

possibility of two men or two women (or more, hehehe...) well...involved

in sexual situations. Though nothing is definite at this moment, you have

still been WARNED!!

The Kitsune and the Priestess

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter One- Harsh storms

Maybe it was the cold of the night, or the warning of a storm upon

the harsh winds. Whatever it was, the fox sneaking towards the

shrine was not surprising. Each night for the past month it had come,

slipping beneath the porch and into the basement of the quiet Kyoto

shrine. It was a deep red in color, eyes a flashing brown but still

not a common hue for foxes in this area. In Kyoto, all the foxes were

purest white to blend in with the winter snows that covered move of

Mount Kurama. But not this newcomer.

The priestess smiled gently, watching the fox slip inside before

continuing to sweep the walk up to the Yuki Shrine. Either it was

getting colder in the south, or that fox was more than just one's

average kitsune. And it was never cold in the south.

When the leaves had been cleared from the walk, though no doubt the

storms would bring them back, the priestess made her way into the shrine.

Her father had left to help the priests at Ise-jou nearly two months ago,

so she was responsible for the nightly devotions. With slippered feet, she

quietly stole through the humble place of worship, offering a silent

prayer to the statue of Susano-ou. She was proud to say that she had not

adopted the ways of the western Buddhists, quite content with her Shinto gods.

A creek in the wood behind her alerted the priestess of the fox, though

she made no movement to catch sight of it. Slowly it crept forward,

eyeing the sweet yams on the alter. She couldn't help but smile, gesturing

for it to come forward. Winters had brought harsh storms and little crop to

Kyoto, and it was a wonder the kitsune had not starved already. The creature

was hesitant, but hunger drove it forward to sit beside the priestess. With

gentle hands she set the bowl before the creature and turned back to the

statue, offering a pray for forgiveness.

That done, she stood and exited the shrine, heading toward the family

house off to the side to eat herself. Father would scold her for giving

away their food to the beast, but she knew it was for the greater good.

Feed an animal of the gods, and fortune was yours.

Sitting down on the cushion she had owned since she was very little, the

priestess sipped her tea while her eyes studied the parchment she had brought

with her. A messenger had arrived that afternoon upon horseback while she

was tending to chores. With all work for the day done, she no longer could

avoid opening it.

The penmanship wasn't familiar, though the kanji brushstroke was graceful

and fleeting. It was addressed to her, meaning whoever had written to her

knew that her father was away- either someone from the town, her father himself,

or her sister's new husband. It was still a frightening thought- she

trusted the men of Kyoto to have the honor of noble blood, but an outsider

knowing she was here all alone...

The priestess set her tea aside on the carpeted floor and took the letter

into her hands. She studied the rice paper and wax seal on the back, a hunting

hound, which gave her no clue to whom it was. With a gentle hand she broke the

seal and unfolded the letter to read.

To Hitomi Yun,

I pray the gentle winds of the sun has graced

you this day, for my business writing you brings

no such mercy for the storms to come. I regret

to inform you that a kitsune my men have been

chasing may have headed in the direction of your

shrine. We chased the beast from its hiding place

at Mt. Kurama, and it was last seen heading toward

the Yuki Shrine.

I ask that if you see the beast, try to trap it and

alert me at once. I shall be staying at the Shinobi

Hattawa Inn.

Best wishes and regards.

Yokoshima Ein, Captain

The priestess rolled her eyes, tossing the letter aside. Nobel warriors were

all the same- old Shogun blood gone bad. With a gentle sigh, she picked up

her tea once more and took a sip. Still too hot to drink very much of without

burning her tongue. And it was still far too weak.

She stood, dusting off her pants lightly. She'd have to sweep the house tomorrow,

for it had been some time since she last had. The priestess started

toward the door, grabbing a lantern in order to see her way through the darkness of

the courtyard. The winds had become violent, dark clouds swirling

with great speed above her head and the trees groaned with their strain.

The candles in the shrine were nearly to the end of their wicks, casting a bitter

light as she entered. The bowl of yams had been set back on the alter,

empty, and paw prints were evident in the ashes of incense. Letting the light

sweep over each corner, she searched for the kitsune but found nothing but

the prints.

With a sigh, she turned a started back toward the door only to catch sight of a flash

of copper by the exit. She rushed out only to watch the kitsune

disappear into the foliage of the woods. Another sigh slipped past her lips as she

padded toward the house, lantern in hand.

Hopefully her tea was cooled by now.