Red Smoke

♥️

     Mount Kagutsuchi, a monumental peak shadowing the town of Okurama on the outskirts of the Tokyo Prefecture.  A popular tourist destination for its rich history and popular folktales.

     Popular folktales such as Kagutsuchi's Kitsune.  An ongoing story about a family of kitsune who live high on the mountain.  Playing tricks on villagers occasionally but most of all warding off evil and protecting the town.
     The thing is the stories keep better more and more real.  Signs of life and kitsunebi or fox fire sightings.  Claims of beautiful women with bells hung from their ears coming down the mountain with firewood or charcoal in times of need.

     Investigation is necessary.

-

     So 9 Hashira stand before Mount Kagutsuchi and speak amongst themselves, villagers watching from a distance.

     "I still don't understand why all of us had to come.  This is unflamboyant!  I have better, far more flamboyant things to do!"
     "I forgot."
     "Your thoughts are irrelevant Uzui-san~!"
     "Hey!"
     "My goodness, let us all calm down and pay our respects."
     "Shut up."
     "Watch your mouth, Shinazugawa."
     "I just remembered why we don't all meet up more!"
     "Excuse me, Miss!"

     Shinobu turns around in the middle of restraining herself from tranquilizing Shinazugawa to look down at the little boy tugging on her haori.
     "Satou!  Oh my, leave them be!" A wide, kind faced woman rushes across the snowy ground.
      The little boy pouts and looks back up to Shinobu, "But I wanna know!"
      "Know what?" She asks sweetly kneeling down in front of him and patting his head lightly.
     "Are you here for the Red Fox!"
     "Satou!" The woman sweeps up the child and smiles nervously scolding him under her breath as she bustles away.

     "The... Aka Kitsune?"
     "Whatever, it's a stupid kid!  Can we get going?"
     There's a round of murmurs and grievances before the group starts moving up the trail.
     "WAIT!" An unfamiliar voice calls out before they can get far.
     "Son of a fuck!"
     "Shinazugawa!"

     An angry Wind Hashira rounds on the girl running after them through the snow, "For fucks sake what is it?!"
     She yelps as he snarls in her face before grimacing back, "Well I was trying to keep you from getting yourselves hunted across the mountain by yokai!"
     "Oh dear!" Mitsuri cups her hands over her mouth and Uzui rolls his eyes in the background.
     "No offense sweetheart, but we'll be fine."
     The girl huffs and stomps her foot, "Don't sweetheart me!  Whether you believe in the stories or not at least be respectful!"
     "Pardon~?" Shinobu elbows Shinazugawa out of the way and tilts her head sweetly.
     The girl groans and throws out a hand, "An offering???"  She motions to the stone kitsune statue to their right.
     "Oh!" Mitsuri cries, rushing over to it and brushing some snow off the statues head.

     It's taller than her but not quite as tall as Uzui or Himejima.  A wide smile carved into it's fox-ish face.  Seven tails splay behind it in icy granite glory and worn copper bells hang on ratty red ribbons from it's large ears.
     A matching statue sits on the left, smaller, and with only 5 tails.  While one is clearly a zenko, that being the seven tailed one which holds a gentle, benevolent look.  The other seems to be some sort of yako purely based off of it's furrowed brows and skewed grin.

     "Food will do, or anything of value really."  The girl nods, hands on her hips.
     "Oh, it can have some of my lunch!" Mitsuri drops the large bag on her back and pulls out an increasingly massive bento, the village girl stares aghast as the woman places mochi and meat buns at the foot of the statue before several riceballs and even more cut vegetables join.
     "Okay, okay!  That's more than enough!  Geez, who are you guys..."
     Iguro slaps a hand over Rengoku's mouth before he can loudly proclaim their affiliates.