Past the Threshold They Went
It had been a little over a month since Mary had found the fox on her property. The poor creature had been unconscious by the side of the half frozen river, it’s body covered in wounds. Had it not been for the weak and almost imperceptible breaths it had been taking, she honestly would have assumed it was already dead.
Unfortunately, with the only vet being quite a significant drive away, and the roads having been quite perilous at the time, Mary hadn’t had any way of getting further help. Instead, she had carefully and tenderly bundled the barely breathing animal into her jacket and taken it directly home, hoping against all odds, that it would survive the night.
The first few days had led to no end of stress, the foxes condition failing to improve even with round the clock care. To her eternal relief however, after almost a week spent falling asleep at the animals side, Mary finally started to see progress.
Though it’s moments of consciousness were never long, the sight of the foxes bleary eyes dazedly trying to focus on its surroundings, had filled her heart with no end of joy, and with a renewed hope burning in her chest, Mary had continued to lovingly tend to it the best that she could.
It was early one morning during the second week, that she saw the fox fully aware for the first time.
Something about its strange cerulean gaze had frozen her in place when it first landed upon her, and for a moment she had been concerned that it would become aggressive now that it was awake. To her surprise however, she'd found the fox to be shockingly docile as it allowed her to care for it, though it’s unusual piercing stare remained intently focused on her the entire time.
Though obviously more alert than before, the fox had continued to sleep quite often, its wounds healing at a frankly astonishing rate from that point on, much to Mary's relief. Soon enough, it had even taken to following her around the house, always choosing to come and rest in whatever room she had moved to.
As time went on and Mary continued to spend more and more time around the creature, she started to notice strange things about it, like the way its gleaming white coat almost seemed to glow in a certain light, or the way her eyes sometimes deceived her into believing it was somehow larger than before, despite already being rather large for a fox. Occasionally, she even thought she saw more than one tail swaying contentedly behind it, though when the blonde looked again it was always completely normal.
It was its eyes however, that captured the most of Mary's attention.
Something about its strangely intense gaze always felt otherworldly… old, and the feeling of it resting upon her never failed to send a shiver down her spine, though it was a feeling she eventually grew use to.
Mary knew that she would eventually have to say goodbye to it, something that she found herself dreading more and more each day. After so much time spent together, she'd grown rather fond of the strange little creature, a feeling that was apparently quite mutual if its behaviour was anything to go by.
To her amusement and silent glee, the almost healed animal had taken to cuddling up to her at every possible opportunity, sometimes even draping itself over her in an attempt to get her to stay in place for just a little longer. It was a behaviour that she couldn’t say she disliked, and more often than not, Mary found herself giving in and whittling away the hours as she curled up in front of the fire together, her fingers buried in its impossibly soft fur.
Such moments filled her with a strange feeling of safety and comfort, and loathe as she were to admit it, the thought of being all along again, now filled her with a deep and painful ache, despite how accustomed she had been to it before.
Still, Mary knew that she couldn’t indulge in her selfishness forever, and with the fox now almost completely healed, and the weather finally starting to look less harsh, she knew it was almost time.
Laid back upon her bed, she stared wistfully at the half asleep fox as she combed her fingers through its silky fur, the mischievous little creature having quickly claimed its spot on her chest the moment she had laid down to have a break.
“I guess it’s almost time for you to leave isn’t it?”
Her words were nothing but a soft murmur, but instantly the fox froze, its eyes snapping open and focusing on her with an unnerving intensity. With a sad smile, Mary stroked gently over its head, letting out a shuddering sigh as she continued to speak.
“I can’t keep you locked away here forever, you’re meant to roam free….”
Unable to keep looking into its piercing eyes, Mary focused instead on one of its velvety ears, gently rubbing it as she ignored the sting in her eyes and the thickness forming in her throat.
“I’m really going to miss you, you know?…..I wish you could stay with me forever.”
Grimacing at the way her voice cracked towards the end, Mary let out a shuddering sigh, cursing herself for getting so emotional over such a silly thing.
Not wanting to spend the rest of the day moping in bed, she decided to get up and do something to distract herself from her gloomy thoughts, though she found her actions rather swiftly hampered.
With a soft oomph Mary found herself shoved back onto the bed, her eyes temporarily blinded by flash of light. The sight that awaited her once she reopened her eyes, instantly made her heart skip a beat in shock.
In place of the small soft form Mary had been cuddling with only moments before, was a tall and hauntingly beautiful kitsune, their clawed hands pinning her down to the bed with ease as they straddled Mary's trapped form. Behind them were nine beautiful tails, each one puffed up and swaying in agitation as they scowled fiercely down at the blonde.
The sight of them was enough to steal Mary's breath away, her eyes remaining wide as she stared up at the ethereal creature, completely frozen.
“If you think you can be rid of me so easily after all we’ve been through, you are sorely mistaken.”
Their voice practically radiated power, the sound of it sending an instant shudder through Mary as she realised just how dangerous the creature above her, was. Despite that, their firm grip on her remained almost achingly gentle, even in their anger.
Eyes narrowing into slits, they bent over the blonde until the tip of their nose was brushing your own, their firmly controlled breathing teasing her with each exhale, though it wasn’t that which stole her attention.
Up this close, it was impossible to ignore the powerful emotion swirling in their gaze, their cerulean eyes glowing as though wisps of ghost lights had been trapped within them.
“You sealed your fate the moment you welcomed a kitsune past the threshold of your home.”
Mary's POV
Without any hesitation at all I looked her in the eye and said, "I sealed what fate?"
She smiled, "You are mine now and I'll keep you until the end of your days."
She looked a bit startled by my smile. Even more so by the one word I asked next...
"Promise?"
I reached up and ran my fingers through her hair in this form too and it was still as impossibly soft. The biggest differences were the length and not my being able to push my hands into that depth of fur. Rubbing it just as carefully as before still as intent at keeping my companion comforted as before even knowing how much she had healed.
I again look into those eyes with their impossible experience, knowledge and power. Past all of that there still is the commonality between us, loneliness.
She said to me, "What would have you asking such a question? You obviously know now that I could do anything I want and yet you ask for a promise to keep you? Your days could be numbered in less than you have fingers but you look and smell excited for it."
I answer, "Even with you being injured at first and healing you were good company and I've enjoyed you being here. I was obviously sad at the thought of an individual who I've come to like their company leaving. That you show yourself now in this way from me expressing that means you have grown attached to me too. I look forward to continuing that as I am fond of you. As you have seen there are no visitors nor other then grocery shopping or doing laundry do I go out and deal with people. I work in a business position where I get everything done remotely. Am I supposed to not be excited, happy and looking forward to the best company I've had in years is determined to stay?"
I grin at her, "Oh no a beautiful trickster who has been a great guest wants to still be my guest and I didn't want her to go. Now she can talk to me too. What ever shall I do? If you let me up I'll make us both lunch, how about crab rangoon and beef and broccoli? I have enough for two even if I was just expecting to fit it for me."
She removes her hold on one of my wrists and brings it up to my cheek, her thumb softly caressing me. On instinct, I close my eyes and lean into her touch. Her touch was warm, yet cold. Familiar yet strange.
"Momobami Ririka."
My eyes open at her voice. A name very suited for the looks of this kitsune on top of me. Her eyes have returned to normal and her face has relaxed. My grin doesn't falter as I move my free hand and let it rest on her thigh.
"Saotome Mary."