Chapter 113:
– Haru –
I leaned back in my seat, flashing a smug, sharp-toothed grin that showed off my long canines. I comfortably rested a hand atop the enormous red wolf's broad head. The beast, massive muscles rippling under his thick crimson fur, made a low, satisfied growl as my fingertips scratched deeply behind his pointed ears.
"You're just a big softie, aren't you, buddy?" I teased affectionately, digging my fingers deeper into his thick fur, earning a rumble of pleasure. Initially, the big fuzzball had snapped his giant jaws at me, his mouth curling back to show huge, deadly fangs. But after tossing him some deliciously grilled meat I had prepared, he went from menacing guard beast to oversized puppy real damn quick.
His multiple red tails thumped eagerly against the ground, matching the enthusiastic waving of my own ten fluffy, golden fox tails behind me. Yeah, we were best friends now.
Nearby, Ranni stood watching, her blue eyes bright with satisfaction, a rare relaxed smile spreading over her lips. "'Tis most surprising," she said warmly. "My mother's guardian beast rarely accepts strangers. Thou hast truly charmed him, Haru."
I shot her a cheeky grin, shrugging easily. "What can I say? The way to a big bastard's heart is through his stomach."
From her ornate seat, Rennala's soft chuckle drifted lazily toward us. Her eyes had their usual distant, dreamy glaze, but her smile was genuine as she fixed her gentle gaze upon me. "Thy consort is very nice, dear," she murmured approvingly.
Ranni's cheeks flushed a vivid purple at her mother's words, her gaze quickly dropping downward in obvious embarrassment.
It was obvious that Ranni, for all her magical strength and mystical power, was still very attached to her mother. The way she reacted to Rennala's presence—softening her tone, blushing at compliments—made it clear she was a total momma's girl.
Not that I could say anything. I was the same way with Yasaka. Family ties like that didn't just go away, no matter how powerful we became.
Rennala was beautiful. She stood taller than most women I'd met, and she carried herself with a calm, noble grace that made her presence impossible to ignore. Her body was lush—wide hips, a soft belly, and breasts so big I honestly had trouble keeping my eyes up the first time I ever saw her, and felt the same way even now. But what really stood out was her demeanor.
She was warm. Soft-spoken. Kind. Even in her haze, she had an aura that made you feel safe. I liked her immediately.
And because of that, I wanted to help her.
Ranni had explained that healing wasn't something she was especially good at. Sure, she could rebuild physical bodies all day long—she'd crafted her own multiple times—but when it came to healing the mind and soul, she was at a loss.
Rennala's trauma wasn't just mental. It had scarred her soul, warped her thoughts, left her drifting in that glassy, detached state.
That's where I came in with my "soul food."
I carefully began setting up my cooking equipment in the very center of the vast room, arranging each piece neatly on the polished floor. Pots, pans, utensils, and spices were spread out methodically around me. I grabbed a large mixing bowl and began preparing the seasoned flour for the fried chicken, adding salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and a pinch of cayenne. Beside me, the sound of sizzling oil slowly came alive as it heated in a heavy, cast-iron skillet.
As I seasoned the raw chicken pieces, I glanced up to see Ranni hovering very close to my workspace, leaning in slightly. Her cute nose was scrunched up, and her delicate eyebrows were knitted together with clear skepticism.
"What is this odd concoction thou art making?" she questioned softly, eyes filled with wary curiosity.
"It's fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy," I explained patiently, turning to smile warmly at her doubtful expression. "Trust me, Ranni, your mom is gonna love this."
Ranni's nose remained adorably scrunched as she continued to observe my actions. "Fried... bird meat? And mashed tubers?" She shook her head slightly, her voice filled with gentle doubt. "This seems most unusual for a royal meal."
Laughing softly, I nodded understandingly. "Trust me, it'll be delicious. Soul food, you know? It's warm, hearty, and makes people feel good inside. It's exactly what your mother needs."
With confident motions, I carefully dredged each piece of chicken through the flour mixture, ensuring they were thoroughly coated, and placed them gently into the hot oil. Immediately, the loud, satisfying crackle filled the room. Ranni jumped slightly at the sudden noise, stepping back momentarily before cautiously leaning forward again.
"It smells… surprisingly good," she admitted quietly after a moment, her expression gradually shifting from skepticism to cautious optimism.
I smirked playfully at her acknowledgment and continued working. Next, I peeled several large potatoes, cutting them into even chunks before placing them in a pot filled with boiling salted water. As they began to cook, I prepared the gravy, whisking flour into the drippings from the chicken to form a rich roux. Slowly, I added stock, stirring continuously to prevent lumps and create a smooth, savory sauce.
The aroma became increasingly mouth-watering, filling the entire grand hall. Even Ranni's initial hesitation seemed to fade completely as she moved closer, watching my every move with genuine fascination.
That's right, she hadn't ever joined me in the kitchen yet. She only watched from afar in another dimension or the other side of the bar counter in the Fox Hole.
I turned toward Ranni, catching her gaze and smiling warmly. "Hey Ranni, wanna help me out a bit?"
Her pale blue cheeks instantly darkened to a deep purple hue, eyes widening slightly as she started nervously fiddling with all four of her delicate blue arms, clearly uncertain.
"I…I am not very skilled within the kitchen," she murmured hesitantly, her voice soft and unsure.
I stepped closer to her, placing a comforting hand lightly on her lower back. "You'll do great," I reassured gently. "Here, let me show you."
Guiding her carefully to the counter, I positioned myself directly behind her, close enough to feel the cool softness of her robes brush against me. Reaching around her, I took hold of her hands, placing them on the potato masher and gently demonstrating the right motion. "Just press down firmly and give them a nice twist," I instructed, my voice soft and encouraging.
Ranni hesitantly followed my directions, her slender fingers gripping the masher as she slowly pressed down, glancing back at me for reassurance.
"You're doing perfect," I praised warmly, my chest lightly pressing against her back as I continued guiding her motions. Suddenly feeling bold, my hand drifted slowly downwards, brushing against the soft fabric of her robes until it rested gently against her butt. My fingers lightly squeezed her rounded softness, marveling internally at how perfectly plush it felt beneath my touch. "Wow, it's so soft," I murmured quietly, squeezing gently again.
Ranni stiffened sharply, her entire body tensing against me. Her voice came out in a sharp whisper, embarrassment flooding her tone. "Haru, mine consort! Cease at once! My mother is right there!"
But I didn't want to...
"You two look so very adorable together," Rennala spoke up from nearby in that soft voice of hers.
Ranni let out an embarrassed squeak.
A few minutes later.
…I leisurely stroked the thick, coarse fur of the massive red wolf sprawled contentedly beside me.
Noisy crunching of bones filled the air as he eagerly worked through the leftovers of our southern-style meal. With every bite, the beast emitted a low, satisfied rumble, his multiple tails swishing lazily against my legs.
My attention drifted back to the dining table where Ranni and her mother, Rennala, sat delicately savoring fried chicken with their fingers, carefully dabbing away any stray grease or crumbs with dainty napkins. It was amusing to watch two members of royalty attempt to maintain poise and dignity while indulging finger food.
Ranni's blue cheeks occasionally flushed with embarrassment when she caught me watching her struggle to eat neatly.
"Hey, Ranni," I called out casually, my fingers gently scratching behind one of the wolf's enormous ears. "Where exactly did you two get this handsome beast? He's seriously impressive."
Ranni paused mid-bite, setting down her piece of chicken with a quiet sigh. Her expression darkened slightly, delicate features tightening into a faint scowl. "This red wolf belonged to my father, Radagon," she said bitterly, her tone noticeably colder. Her gaze shifted downwards, her four delicate arms folding protectively around her waist. "He left us, abandoned mother and me. He chose to pursue his twin sister, that traitorous harlot, instead."
Seriously? He left her stacked mother for someone else. His own sister in fact?
Ranni caught my gaze lingering on her mother and immediately folded all four of her slender blue arms tightly across her chest, her small lips forming a noticeable pout. "Haru," she scolded, her voice dripping with playful irritation, "thou art clearly entertaining some exceedingly rude thoughts regarding my mother!"
My cheeks heated instantly, embarrassment washing over me in a quick wave. "What? No, I was just—"
Before I could finish my weak defense, Rennala interrupted with an unexpectedly clear and commanding voice. "Now, now, dear daughter," she said softly but firmly, the dreamy haze entirely gone from her eyes. Those golden eyes now held a sharp, alert focus, fixed directly on me with a sly sparkle. "I don't mind at all. It's been far too long since a handsome young man has entertained such thoughts about me."
A stunned silence filled the room as Ranni and I both stared at Rennala in shock.
Ranni's expression shifted rapidly from surprise to joy, her eyes widening, her pout dissolving into genuine wonder. "Mother?" Ranni whispered, disbelief coloring her tone. "Thy mind, it seems—"
Rennala smiled gently, her lips curving warmly. "Yes, my darling," she confirmed softly, reaching out gracefully to place a reassuring hand on Ranni's shoulder. "I feel better than I have in many years. Perhaps we owe some thanks to thy beloved Haru and his delightful cooking..."
Suddenly Ranni was standing right next to me, her delicate blue face inches from mine. Before I could even blink in surprise, she flung all four of her slender arms around me, wrapping me in an unexpectedly tight and warm embrace. I felt the full softness of her body pressed firmly against me.
I stood frozen for just a moment, caught off guard by her sudden teleportation and the sheer intensity of her hug. Then my tails reacted instinctively, curling affectionately around her, pulling her even closer.
"Thank thee, Haru," she murmured softly into my chest, her voice thick with sincere gratitude. "Thou hast helped heal my mother's mind in ways I never imagined possible!"
Then an even larger pair of arms wrapped around us, lifting us both off the floor as Rennala joined in on the hug.
Yeah, this was turning out to be a good day.
– Yasaka –
Yasaka's twelve fluffy golden tails waved energetically behind her, each movement radiating the immense excitement she felt bubbling inside. She had difficulty containing the broad, delighted smile that continuously crept onto her face as she gazed down at the two lovely redheaded fox girls seated formally in front of her.
Both young women were fidgeting subtly in their traditional seiza positions, their red fox ears pressed back sheepishly against their vibrant hair after sharing their embarrassing revelation.
Looking closely, Yasaka noted with amusement how strikingly similar they appeared, almost like perfect mirror images. Kushina Uzumaki's transformation into a demon fox had brought her appearance uncannily close to that of her daughter, making the two look like identical twins.
"So," Yasaka began, leaning forward slightly with an eager grin, her generous chest barely contained within her lavish robes. "When exactly did you two discover this delightful news?"
Kushina blushed lightly, her cheeks tinted almost the same shade as her fiery red hair. She cleared her throat and shifted again, clearly embarrassed but determined to maintain composure. "We found out when we went to Milim's world," she explained, her voice steady yet tinged with mild exasperation. "I needed to undergo my transformation properly and finally get rid of that annoying orange fox for good."
Naruko nodded shyly. "Y-Yeah... The voice of that world spoke to us. It t–told us that we were both—" she couldn't say it out loud a second time due to shoving her face in her hands and squealing.
Yasaka chuckled warmly, placing a delicate hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle. "Well," she mused lightly, her tone teasingly playful, "I can't say I'm completely surprised. Knowing my dear son's inclinations and his fondness for gorgeous redheads, this was practically destined to happen..."
Yasaka relaxed visibly, leaning back comfortably into her plush cushions. The happy news from Naruko and Kushina was definitely preferable to the unsettling information Azazel had brought her earlier. Her mind still whirled with concern over how exactly she should approach the delicate and complicated situation. Every pantheon worldwide had suddenly recognized her people's growing power and influence, and handling their scrutiny was becoming an increasingly sensitive task.
Naruko and Kushina exchanged nervous glances. Yasaka watched them with gentle amusement, her golden eyes filled with warmth and understanding. She could clearly see the mixture of anticipation and worry dancing across their expressions.
Naruko's ears flicked anxiously as she finally gathered the courage to speak, her voice wavering slightly. "Y-Yasaka, do you think… Haru will be okay with this news?"
Beside her, Kushina bit her lower lip apprehensively, looking up at Yasaka with wide, uncertain eyes. "We weren't sure if we should even tell him yet. It's all so sudden and… unexpected."
Yasaka leaned forward slightly, the silk of her lavish robes rustling softly with the movement. "My dear girls, Haru might be stunned initially—this isn't something he'd expect to hear—but I know him well enough to say he'll be absolutely delighted once he wraps his head around it."
Relief visibly washed over both Kushina and Naruko. Kushina let out a breath she had clearly been holding, chuckling lightly as she exchanged a relieved look with her daughter. Both sets of their nine fluffy red tails began swaying happily behind them, brushing gently against each other.
Yasaka's smile widened further, her heart warming at the sight. She truly loved moments like these, simple yet profoundly joyous, reminding her how large and how precious her family had become.
A soft knock resonated from the door. Her expression quickly softened into a warm smile when her daughter's bright golden-haired head peeked cautiously inside. Kunou's fluffy golden ears perked and twitched slightly, clearly picking up sounds from beyond the room.
"Mama," Kunou spoke hesitantly, her voice gentle and tinged with worry. "Big sister Sansa and Catelyn are here, and they're arguing pretty loudly with Queen Cersei. It's getting noisy out there. Myrcella, Tanya and I can't play with their arguing."
"Thank you for letting me know, Kunou-chan," Yasaka said warmly. "Tell them all to come here and join me in my room. I'll handle whatever it is."
Kushina and Naruko gracefully rose from the tatami, smiling warmly at Yasaka as they prepared to leave. Yasaka watched them fondly, noticing how closely their fluffy red tails brushed against each other in quiet excitement, clearly eager to deliver their wonderful news to Haru directly.
Once the two fox girls had departed, Yasaka barely had a chance to relax before her door opened again, and in came Sansa and Catelyn Stark. They were immediately followed by Cersei Lannister, who strode in with a much angrier presence.
Yasaka sighed internally at the visible tension. Cersei's emerald eyes were practically blazing, locked fiercely onto Sansa and Catelyn as though she were moments away from exploding in anger.
Yasaka calmly motioned them to sit, her gaze gently curious as she waited for an explanation.
Cersei wasted no time. "A big problem has arrived in Westeros!" she snapped sharply, her voice edged with barely contained fury. "That upstart bitch Daenerys Targaryen! She has three dragons and an army of raping savage barbarians and eunuch slaves! She has landed on the shores of my former husband's homeland and has proclaimed herself queen of westeros! This cannot be allowed to stand!"
"It's a delicate situation," Sansa said softly, measured and careful. "We believe it best to discuss it with you and Haru before acting hastily."
Catelyn nodded in agreement with her daughter.
Cersei's glare intensified. "Weak Stark girls don't have what it takes to handle this! We don't have time for caution," she retorted icily. "This dragon queen is a threat that must be crushed immediately. Jaime and I can lead the strike. All you need to do is let me go home to my brother so we can call our banners!"
Yasaka rolled her eyes. There was no way in any pantheon's hell she was letting Cersei Lannister go home so soon into her treatments. She'd probably immediately relapse, jump her brother's bones and cause even more damage in Westeros than this new dragon girl.
And were they even dragons, or maybe just wyverns? Yasaka wondered because she didn't sense any powerful dragons the last time she was in Westeros.
Either way, Yasaka knew this was not something her son Haru needed to hear about right away—especially with the far more personal news Kushina and Naruko were about to share with him once he returned from his date with the darling Ranni. The threat, if it could be called that, was still far away. She understood well that medieval armies on a massive continent like Westeros moved painfully slow, often taking weeks or months just to travel from one battle to the next. There was time to assess and act.
She offered a polite but firm nod to each of the women before her. "Thank you for bringing this to me," she said, her tone courteous but cool. Cersei, however, didn't let the moment linger.
"Well? Will you allow me to go?" Cersei pressed, her voice sharp with impatience.
Sansa and Catelyn exchanged uneasy glances, their postures stiffening as they waited for Yasaka's response.
Yasaka let out a light, amused laugh, tilting her head slightly as her golden eyes locked on Cersei. "Absolutely not," she replied. "I'm not letting you return to your brother."
Cersei's lips curled back in a quiet, angry hiss as she stood up and stormed out of the room!
As soon as the door closed sharply behind Cersei, Sansa rolled her eyes dramatically, huffing out an irritated sigh. "Honestly, that woman is beyond unbearable," she complained, crossing her arms over her chest as she fixed a frustrated gaze toward her mother. "Does she truly believe she still holds all the power in Westeros?"
Catelyn chuckled lightly. "Yes, she does have quite the inflated sense of self-importance. Her attitude is growing more insufferable by the day."
Yasaka watched the two Stark women with open amusement, her golden eyes sparkling fondly. Seeing them vent their genuine irritation was an endearing reminder of the spirited women who had captured her son's heart. The slight smile on her lips broadened as she considered them thoughtfully.
With a playful tilt of her head, Yasaka leaned forward slightly, her voice teasing and gentle. "Just to make absolutely certain—though I highly doubt it—neither of you happen to be pregnant right now, correct?"
Sansa and Catelyn both visibly sputtered.
Sansa's delicate features turned a vibrant shade of crimson. Her hands fluttered nervously in her lap, clearly struggling to regain her composure as she glanced rapidly between her mother and Yasaka. "Are…are we supposed to be…?" Sansa managed to stammer out.
"Ara Ara..." That genuine reaction just made Yasaka giggle more...
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