The kitsune dodged over fallen logs and sped along the outskirts of the forest, watching the sleeping city of Kyoto with weary eyes. Then again, Kyoto never truly slept. A few men drunk on sake wobbled from tea house to tea house, and the nightly watch marched through the stone streets with a noisy pounding of armor. There were the sounds of whispers as lovers met secretly in the night, and the shrill cries of infants as they awoke in the night. And though the kitsune loved the silence of the forest, it was here in Kyoto were she was home.

Little paws padded softly on the streets, eyes watching the shadows of alley ways for any dogs hungry enough to attack. She had seen the messenger that afternoon delivering the letter to the priestess, and did not have to see it to know who it was from. She fallowed the messenger back to the Inn, and then darted back to the shrine so as to not be seen. It was risky to return there, but she was pulled to it. And she did not think a priestess would be interested in capturing her.

But it was back to the Inn that she went, despite the risks. The nobles had caught sight of her while hunting on Mt. Kurama, and had burned her home to force her out. They had chased her into the heart of Kyoto, where their leader had caught her once before. She flinched as her once broken leg reminded her of what it took to escape him.

Only a few lights remained on in the Inn, so it was not hard to sneak into a dark alley behind it. It was there that she began the delicate art of the foxes- she became human. It was a skill that had inspired legend and myth for hundreds of years, ones that made young men watchful on lonely country roads.

The folds of a red and gold kimono spun out around her as though blown by the wind. Her black hair tumbled out around her, and the green of her eyes disappeared, becoming purest black. She had no shoes, for that was far beyond any fox's ability, and she knew even though she was powerful enough to conjure up clothing, this form was not without its weaknesses. She felt the burn at the back of the neck as the kanji symbol for fox wrote itself black into her skin. The back of the neck was a sensual place in Japanese culture, so if a man were to try and get too close to her.

Her kimono was long enough to cover her bare feet, but only just. She would have to be careful were she to sit or lift her knees. Having her hair down was a little rude in some places, but on this side of Kyoto it was not uncommon, and she really didn't know how to tie it up anyway.

She walked through a back door into the kitchen. She was approached by some of the maids, but she explained that she worked during the days. She had come back to work a bit more to earn more money. The others let it pass, mainly because they didn't really care. So she picked up a tray and loaded it with three glasses of tea and a few sweets- enough for the three nobles, and left the kitchen.

When she knelt outside the door to the nobles' room, she straightened her hair to make sure the mark did not show. "My lords." It was a quite, respectable voice. She waited outside the screen, watching the shadows of their forms against the rice paper. Nervousness swelled in her breast, and for a moment she could not breathe. When they saw her, would they know? Would they guess?

"Come in." She slid the screen back delicately, placing the tray beyond it before moving through herself. Still on her knees, she closed it with the same care. Retrieving the tray she walked towards them and placed it down on the floor beside their work table, and stepped back to kneel once again. She stayed silent- they would have to speak again before she could.

"Ah, fresh tea. Thank you very much. But what do we owe the honor to?"

"My fellow maids and I thought it would help since you've been working tirelessly. We did not wish for you to be uncomfortable." She kept her eyes downcast, but she could see what lay on their table- a map, with the path she had taken from Mt. Kurama. The panic arose once more. It showed where she had tracked the messenger.

They knew.

"Ah, well thank you again. What a kind thing." Her eyes glanced up, and for a moment she was taken breathless from the smile one gave her. The captain. It was a sincere smile, gentle and caressing. And for that moment she forgot why she hated them, and her heart pounded for another reason. Never before had she seen that expression on a human- nor had one ever caught her off guard like this. And it worried her.

Her eyes ducked again. "You are more than welcome my lord." She waited. They would dismiss her. They had to. They did not know it was her. They couldn't. Her disguise was flawless, her expression and manner perfect. They had no reason to suspect a maid of the Inn. No, they would think she was back at the shrine.

"Come closer, and tell us your name."

Oh no. The panic was back. She did move closer, sitting between the captain and one of the vassals while the other sat across from her. "It is K-Kiyoko, my lord." She cursed mentally- go ahead and let them know about your nervousness. She knew it was dangerous to step into the house of man; she had been warned to never do such a thing. But of course she disregarded the warning completely, and she was beginning to regret it. They would know, they would kill her.

"Kiyoko? Gorgeous name." The captain fallowed her gaze. "Do you know what we're working on?"

Of course, how could she not? They were tracking her, hunting her. "No is a strange way to mark a map. I do not understand it at all."

"We're tracking a kitsune." Her sharp intake of air was louder than she intended. But she could pretend to be concerned. Maybe she could be horrified, and they would only think she was a frightened woman. It was the only plan she could think of, so it was her best chance. She planted a look of terror and fear upon her face, moving one hand over her breast for more dramatics. "We chased the beast down from Mt. Kurama."

"Oh no." She trailed off, and she could feel the exchange of glances between the three men. She turned to the captain, her expression changing to desperation. "It's not going to hurt anyone, is it? My brother and his wife just had a son and a kitsune would go after him, wouldn't it? You have to stop it!" She was surprised by her ability to play this role, and realized her own panic probably added it.

Without warning, the captain's arm was around her shoulders, hand giving a gentle squeeze of reassurance. The man beside her moved a bit, but it was the captain she was focused on. A blush spread through her cheeks without warning, and for a mere moment she was lost in his eyes again. No, no this was not happening. She was not distracted by a human. This was the same man that broke her leg, who had burned her home. And yet.

"There's nothing to worry about. We've nearly got her."

There was a sharp pain as a bundle of her hair was grabbed by the vassal, and she cried out. A cold breeze hit the back of her neck, and the panic returned in full strength. The captain's arms captured hers behind her back, and as the one who's had a hold of her hair forced her head back, she watched the last man go to block the door. She was trapped.

"See, we've got the kitsune, and she won't hurt anyone now." There were tears in her eyes from the sting, and her eyes could only focus on the ceiling. She gave another cry as her hair was jerked back a bit more, and closed her eyes tight against the pain. "You're not going to escape this time. I'll do more than break you leg this time."

She was released and tossed hard against the wooden floor. Having no time to put her arms up, her cheek hit the wood without warning and she gave a whimper. She knew she should not have done this. She was going to die, or worse yet she would be tortured. Held captive until all she wanted to do was die. She tried to stand, but only managed a half sitting, half standing position. Her head swam and her vision was blurry- it was either she hit her head harder than she thought, or her panic had taken control.

"Why did you come here?"

"T-to steer you away from the shrine."

A cruel laugh. "Don't tell me you wanted to repay the priestess's kindness."

She said nothing, looking down at the floor. She didn't know what compelled her to do it- she just wanted them away from the shrine. She had spent weeks there while her leg healed, and not once had she cared if the men found that she was staying there. She didn't care for a human, so the fate of the priestess did not worry her. But the last few days, after the care and help offered to her.

She could still taste the sweet yams on her tongue.

"Please don't harm her."

The priestess sat up breathing heavily, her eyes wide and filled with terror. Images of the kitsune woman lingered in her thoughts still, the realness of the dream far beyond her reasoning. Something deep in her mind screamed for her to get up, to dress and run for all she was worth to the heart of Kyoto. To the Shinobi Hattawa Inn. And though she saw no means to, something still pushed her to move on.

"Lady Yun, where are you going?!"

"I've got to go into Kyoto. There''s been a demon attack. I saw it in the fire. Please watch the shrine for me."

"But of course! Best of luck, and take care!"

She would have to find a way to thank the watchman for that- he was often doing such favors for her. Perhaps she'd take him and his wife out for lunch one time. Her sandals clanked across the lane, and she was guided only by the faint light of the moon and the candle light of houses. She did not fear the night as other women would- she was a priestess, and not even the roughest of bandits would dare to touch her.

But then again, there was much to be said about the nature of men.

"Where is Lord Yokoshima's room?!" She must have startled the owner as she came slamming through the door nearly shouting. A few maids poked their heads out from closets and the kitchen.

"Number six, Miss Yun. Down to the left."

"Thanks!"

She must have startled one of the vassals when she banged back the screen to room six, for the man tripped over his own feet and fell back in an ungraceful pile of cloth and fat. She must have looked horrid- though her hair had been combed briefly before she left, it was torn by the wind. Her clothes were straight, but her chest heaved as she attempted to gain her breath back. She should have at least knocked, but all ladylike manners had disappeared.

Lord Yokoshima and his other vassal were staring at her in confusion, and she could see a woman behind them. The woman from her dream. The kitsune. She was curled up against the wall, eternal fright written across her face and her whole frame shaking. There was a raptly growing bruise on her face. There was a dagger in the vassal's hand, and she didn't need to guess what it was about to be used for.

"Lady Hitomi, a bit late for an evening stroll? But even still, it's wonderful to see your beautiful face." There was a tug at her chest, and she felt a little dizzy. Studying the lord's face, she saw a hint of blue powder right at the side of his cheek. Charmer's dust- it was placed on one's face to bewitch people into desiring the person. Now that she knew what it was, it had no effect on her.

She straightened down her hair, taking up the image of peacefulness. "I came to tell you that the kitsune had escaped my trap, but it seems like you found that out. I apologize for my lack of etiquette."

"Not at all." Captain Ein waved his hand as though to dismiss the subject. "The kitsune decided she'd pay us a visit this evening." He gestured to the quivering girl, who was pulling her kimono closer as though she were cold. The ices of fear, the priestess realized. It was the cold that wouldn't leave your form when you were frightened beyond logical thought.

"I do not hope you were planning to evaluate the sins of the creature yourselves." She did not have to turn to see the confusion on the other vassal's face, for the expression on the one in front of her spoke for both of them. The captain frowned, brows and eyebrows moving across his face to match. He was angry, she could see it in his eyes, but he knew she was right. She was priestess, so any mythical creature to enter her realm was hers to judge.

He pulled the expression off and laughed, joyously and freely. "You are quite right; we forgot that this concerned you." She hid her own anger at his concealed insult. "Go; take your fox with you. I'll have a carriage brought."

"Thank you."

The kitsune looked up at her, searching for some sort of mercy. She did not know if she were escaping death or landing herself in the hands of a great evil. She could only expect that a priestess would at least listen to her. But the woman's face was clear of all emotion.

'This could be bad.' She thought.