Yuki watched the confrontation, her two tails—still small and somewhat scruffy—swaying rhythmically as she peered out at the training grounds. Outside, the first rays of sun were beginning to peek through; she had discovered that both natural and magical energy were far denser in this world.
For Yuki, the last two weeks had felt like waking up in a dream she feared she might be cast out of at any moment.
Since the day she was born, her world had been reduced to cells, needles, and the metallic scent of disinfectant. When that boy with the strange eyes rescued them from that hell and brought them to this place, she was certain the cycle would simply repeat itself. She expected Harry Potter to be just a younger captor—perhaps more clever, but just as cruel.
However, Harry did not put them in chains. There were no experiments, no shouting, and no coldness. Instead, he gave them a choice that left her breathless: "You are free. If you wish, I can return you to your world, or you can stay here, in my dimension. The only thing I ask if you choose to stay is that you help me look after this place."
Yuki sighed, fogging the windowpane with her breath. She remembered the moment her mother realized the boy didn't hold a single ounce of malice in his soul.
The tension that had kept her mother standing for years, acting as a human shield for her daughter, simply snapped. She had collapsed right then and there, fainted from a relief so heavy her body could no longer carry it. She had been asleep ever since, and though Yuki was terrified at first, Harry—whom she was beginning to see as the big brother she never had—reassured her with infinite patience.
Below in the courtyard, the silence was rhythmically broken by the sound of blunt impacts. Harry and Kurogane were in the middle of hand-to-hand combat training.
It was an amazing dance. Watching the Tsuchigumo move like that, with the agility of a warrior rather than the desperation of a wounded creature, gave Yuki a sense of hope she thought had died long ago.
Kurogane hadn't stopped training since the very first day. He never wanted to feel weak again. But his contribution went beyond brute strength. His webbing—a mystical and resilient silk—was helping the house-elves craft garments that seemed to shimmer with their own light.
Even his venom, which in the hands of their captors had been a curse, now served as a way for Harry to learn how to defend himself. The boy had explained that this venom affected the spiritual plane, weakening magic at its root, and understanding it was vital for the battles to come.
The training in the courtyard ended with a respectful bow between the two. Harry, his hair a mess and his tunic slightly stained with dirt, looked up. Noticing the little Kitsune at the window, he gave her a genuine smile and gestured for her to come down.
Yuki didn't think twice. Her feet moved almost by instinct. She dashed down the stairs, her tails fluttering behind her, and stepped out into the fresh garden air, feeling the grass beneath her bare feet.
"You did very well today, Kurogane," Harry said, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Your speed has been increasing; I could barely keep up with you in that last exchange."
"It is thanks to your persistence, Harry," the Tsuchigumo replied in a deep voice that no longer vibrated with pain, but with pride. "It has been a long time since I felt my blood burn like this. It makes me feel alive."
Before Yuki could get any closer, a soft movement at the door of the house caught everyone's attention. Yuki's mother was there, leaning against the wooden frame.
She looked pale and somewhat thin, but her eyes no longer held that veil of extreme exhaustion. She was awake, truly present for the first time.
"Mother!" Yuki cried out, running toward her to hide in her lap.
The elder Kitsune stroked her daughter's hair with trembling fingers, closing her eyes for a moment as she soaked in the warmth of her little one. Then, she looked up at Harry. She walked slowly toward him, and for a moment, Harry thought she might bow formally, but she simply took his hands gently.
"I slept... and for the first time in years, I had no nightmares," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. "Mipsy told me what you offered us. I do not understand why a human would do so much for us without demanding our will in return, but my instincts tell me your words are as real as the sun warming us now."
Harry gave her hands a soft squeeze, holding her gaze honestly.
"You don't need to understand everything today," he replied simply. "You have all the time you need to heal and find your place. Kurogane is already a part of this world."
Yuki's mother looked at Kurogane, who gave a solemn nod of respect, and then at her daughter, who was looking at Harry with a spark of adoration in her eyes. The Kitsune let out a long sigh, releasing the final trace of fear she had been carrying in her chest.
"Then teach us how to care for this home, Harry," she said with a weak but authentic smile. "Because I do not believe there is a better place in all of creation to start over."
Harry smiled, feeling the weight of his mission grow a little lighter as he watched his family grow.
"Let's start with something simple then. Yuki, would you like to help the elves and Kurogane with the silk? They have an idea for some new robes, and I think your eye for colors would be very helpful."
Little Yuki's eyes lit up like stars.