Time: 1792 A.D.

Location: Edo, Japan (Now modern-day Tokyo.)

Period: Edo period

"Towel-kun-" Ngh!-

"Tawah-" Help me... So hot-

"Taro-kun!" I woke up with a start. Four worried faces stare back at me.

"Aaaaaaaahhhhhh! What are you all doing!"

A squeaky but clear voice came floating towards my ears. "You were having that dream again, Aniki...- So Rekka and I wanted to wake you up, but we couldn't. Then we went and got Kimiha-san and Suki-chan so they could try, and now we are like this."

Oh, right. That "dream"; it's more like a memory. Bringing my hands to my face, I feel something wet on my cheeks. Great, tears- "Thank you, Shikari." I yawn, patting her head. I shake myself and get up to bathe. This is the fifth time this week that this has occurred. "I need to find out what happened as soon as possible," I mutter, "There are some fuzzy parts of my past that I can't recall." After about 15 minutes, I get out of the tub and wrap a towel around my waist.

In the mirror, I catch a glimpse of the beauty mark on my neck showing my clan and a fox-shaped pattern with 13 symbols around it. 12 muted blobs and 1 sharp, clear image. Proudly, it showed. The sharp edges and bright color as if the white flames were real and not an impression on my tan skin. I walk towards the mirror and stare at my reflection. I look into my eyes and see sadness, regret, and a hint of tiredness. I sigh and slip into the robe and other garments that hung on the hook by the door. Walking into my room, I sigh heavily once more. Upon doing so, a brief knock came from the outer entrance of my chamber. I didn't even get a chance to answer before the tall, dark-skinned beauty slid open my door and waltzed her way over to me. I shake my head and chuckle as she gracefully sits on my tatami.

"What, I can't visit my son in his room? Are you too good for me?" she asks, feigning shock and grinning afterward.

"Not at all, Akari-san!-" She gave me a look.

"No, mother," I laughed, then went sober again. "I will forever be grateful for all that you have done."

"Taro, I made a promise with your birth mother. If anything happened to her, I would take care of you. You don't have to be so formal. Relax. Take deep breaths." I did as instructed. "So, what is bothering you, chīsana kitsune?"

"I had the dream about my parent's death again. But, it seems as though I could remember my brother's face better. His features were clear and vivid this time."

"Well, that is a bit of an improvement from the last time you woke up screaming," she stated.

"Mom, I didn't kill them, right?"

She looked at me with utter alarm. "No, you didn't. Who told you that-"

I cut her off. "No one, nothing. It was just a thought."

"Anyway, don't think like that again. Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am." She got up and walked out of my room but instantly came back to kiss my forehead.

"Taro," she whispered, "I love you."

"I love you, too."

She left and giggled on the way out, "And stop sighing so loud. Not only can I hear you on the other side of the courtyard, but you will get wrinkles before you're 1000." 

"Use yokai years. I prefer to be twenty-four. 600 human years makes me seem old."

"In that case, you are still a child."

"Mom," I dragged out and pouted, "I'm not a kid-"

"Sure." Then swish. I heard the door close.

I could not be more grateful for Akari-san. She was my mother's best friend at a young age, and she took me in after I left home. She was also the only one who listened carefully to my story, believed me, and defended me from angry villagers. Even now, as we hide in this small estate, she continues to be my mother. She is a yokai, a hone onna, who also mothers two abandoned tanuki pups, Shikari and Rekka. Before, I was still pretty bitter about Tsuin, but I now consider them my younger siblings. They can never replace my blood brother, but they make things slightly less glum. Last but definitely not least, there is Suki, a kijo. She is a little off her rocker, but she is a fast learner and an excellent chef. She looks like a child, but she is only a little younger than me. These remarkable people refer to themselves as my underlings, but to me, they are family.

"Alright, time to get to work," I say gruffly, not noticing the devious, grinning shadow lurking behind its shriveled husk.

................................

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"Welcome to Packrat's Underground Guild. Show your P.U.G. membership to enter. Um, excuse me, sonny. But ya can't just- Oop! Forgive me, your liege," a short man with an eye patch bowed. He opened the curtain and let the cloaked figure in. 

As soon as he entered, the festivities that could be heard by all who were there stopped suddenly. He slowly walked towards a table secluded from the rest, sat down, and ordered a tea and the most massive platter of food they had. After he was done, the festivities resumed. Loud music, colorful dances, and many people gathered around a large board.

"Master, would you like to look at the Guild Board, or should we choose a mission for you?" a woman asked, twirling her hair around one finger, leaning on his table. Completely ignoring her advances, he shook his head. Vastly disappointed that her charms were overlooked, she sashayed to the board and snatched a mission off without looking at it. She hastily returned and handed the paper to him, but not before giving him a distasteful look. He dismissed her and read the mission: 1000 ryo for a party of five to exterminate three hostile ogres; lodging and food guaranteed.

He finished his food and sighed. "I guess I will need their help." He then turned to the messenger.

After the messenger had been briefed on the mission and sent off, the boy, 7 yokai years of age, arrived at the manor. He knocked thrice, as was told to him by his Master. A short but not yet physically mature fair-skinned woman, who looked like she had not seen the sun, opened the gate slightly and stuck her head out. She looked him up and down before asking in a soft whisper, "What do you want?"

He looked left and right before saying, "I was sent here by Master-sama to request the aid of Akari-san, Suki-chan, Shikari, and Rekka for a mission."

She looked shocked for a moment, then excited. Swiftly she ran through the courtyard and knocked on all the doors. Before leaving the previous doorway and going to the next one, she would say, "Mission report, we are needed to rendezvous at the tavern."

In less than seven minutes, four figures cloaked in black gathered near the gate, each with large red and gold boxes strapped to their backs. The messenger ran ahead to alert his Master of their response. They followed closely behind. When they reached the guildhall, the messenger walked into the place, told his Master all that arose, then faded into the busyness and commotion. The fellow whose legs were crossed at the table slowly got up and made his way toward the group. Moments later, after eating most of the food and packing some for the long trip, the man picked up a box similar to the others. He spoke in hushed tones regarding the details of the paper, then left for their mission.

Three days later, they arrived at the small village's borders. A tall wooden wall was constructed around it, and the posts were sharpened messily to a point. A slim, old, human man in his seventies came out from the village entrance and greeted them with a smile. "Welcome to the village of Oak. I am Jun Seoto. Jun means "pure"; Seoto means "shallow sound." It is nice to meet you. What brings you this way?"

The tall cloaked man answered in a deep, husky voice, "We are here about your," he cleared his throat, "Pest problem. Rationally thinking, it should take us a day to fulfill our duties. That is, if no one gets in our way."

"That is fantastic! We'll be able to host our festival then!" Seoto exclaimed. "To whom do I owe this appreciation?"

"Fluffy Vixen. And these are my companions. They received my message. And in turn, desire no gratitude."

"Excellent, excellent! Everything is back on track," the man paused and looked up at the sky. "It is getting late now, so follow me, and I will show you to your quarters." He turned on his heel and walked briskly ahead, followed by the fox and his company.

After passing many small huts on the outskirts of the village, the travelers marveled how close together each shed was. They soon reached a tall house in the center of the smaller minkas. "This is where you will be staying, so I hope everything will be to your liking."

Evening came, and all were merry. The caretakers and maids of the house made sure that their company was comfortable and well-fed. Each individual waddled sleepily to their mats and laid down to rest.

The following morn, the first to wake up was the rooster in the village, who seemed to scream, "Wake up, you ingrates. The sun is up." As if on cue, the whole town came to life. Fluffy, Akari, Suki, Rekka, and Shikari stepped out into the square and looked around. The people who attended the daily council meetings were headed to the court. Shop keepers were tending to their merchandise. And children were on their way to school, giggling amongst themselves.

All was peaceful until mid-day. As the children flocked about the field next to the schoolhouse, the earth began to rumble, and clouds started to form overhead. Parents rushed from the streets and snatched their children left and right. No one was within a mile radius of the school except Fluffy and his companions.

"Master, do you know what caused that earthquake?" Suki asked.

"There is only one creature who can make a tremor like that," He sniffed the air. "And a smell that foul."

Seconds later, three giants walked straight into the square. One with long, black hair, another with short, brown hair, and one with no hair. They all looked the same besides that fact.

Suki shivered and spat in disgust. "Ogres."

"I find that absolutely hysterical coming from you, Kijo-sama," the bald ogre spat back. "You would turn your back on your own? But then again, you were probably kicked out for being so ugly!" 

In the blink of an eye, Suki was flying towards him, kabutowari in hand, box on the road. And just as quickly as she charged, she landed gracefully on the ground. "What was that little blade supposed to- ack hrrrrk-"

"Our middle brother did always speak before assessing the situation. He would have been better off keeping quiet." The brunette ogre and the youngest of the three said sorrowfully. At that moment, a thump was heard, and an ugly bald head rolled across the square. A massive, lifeless body lay sprawled out as if it was reaching out for the noggin that had left it behind.

Fluffy sighed. "That is one less ogre that can answer my questions, but I guess that's fine. You-" He pointed at the raven-haired one, "Why are you disturbing this town? What have they done?"

Thinking carefully about his response, he looked at the smaller creature in front of him. "As you know, we are ogres. We are drawn to the evil and greed of men, and we feast on them, skin and bones. This town has sacrificed its own to us for many years. And every year, someone tries to run away. A few years ago, a man who passed through suggested that they hold a ritual, The Hunt of the Kitsune, where they hold a festival and "hunt" for a specifically marked kitsune. But before each festival, they send out a mission flyer for help to defeat us. But in reality, instead of sacrificing themselves, they sacrifice those stupid enough to come here. The village leader was worried that he and his family would have to be sacrificed this year. But luckily, you and your friends here showed up," he licked his dry, crusty lips, "You're not human, but you all will surely make a terrific and filling appetizer. We will save the village leader for the main course as a tribute to our now-dead brother, Rumpa." He stepped forward, bent over, and poked the box on Fluffy's back. "And I will use whatever is in here as a toothpick." 

"Ya know what? I was going to show you mercy and kill you quickly," he set the box down, a dark shadow blanketing his face, "But it seems that I will have a little, what's that word?- Oh, yeah. Fun!" When he looked up, his eye patch was gone, and the boredom that painted his features was replaced with utter delight, but not bliss. No. It was sick and twisted, so much that the wind was stiff and chilled by his presence.

"I would like to see you take on the both of us," the younger of the two said.