Tale of Two Tails

Chapter 28

The next day, Levi decided to speak to the people BEFORE executing Kiku, but he would still question him first. And so Levi and Eren entered the dungeons with only the tips of Eren's tails as extra light as the torches on the walls only gave enough to see silhouette's in the halls to those in the cells. And Levi wanted Kiku and the assassin to see him and Eren when he was speaking. The assassin was first.

"How much money did Kiku pay you initially to kill Eren?" Levi asked. The assassin looked between him and Eren before answering a decent amount. "And when you killed the emperor instead?"

"To be honest, I was not pleased with it. I am an assassin, and I pride in getting my target, and only my target. I didn't think I had been seen when I had initially struck, so when he moved, I was shocked and ran away as fast as I could. When I confronted Lord Kiku a few days later, I told him that if he wanted me to finish the assignment, he would have to pay me double, if not triple. I also offered to give him the money back since I had not only failed, but killed someone else." The assassin explained.

"What happened to the assassin code saying you wouldn't take about your client?" Eren asked. The assassin turned to him.

"My target was a demon. That goes out of my line of duty, so even if he hired me, it doesn't count. He might as well have paid me for no reason. And he is no longer my client, and our deal had been revealed. There is no point in keeping quiet and risking my life for no reason."

"I see." Levi said, crossing his arms. "Well then.You have commited treason, but you were not targetting my father. I find no fault in you, but you will not be partened for this. All the money Kiku had given you must be handed over to the palace, and if you wish to stay out of jail, you will pay a monthly fee. If you can not meet these standards, you will be imprisioned."

"But My Lord, I have a family-"

"Will be able to visit you whenever their heart desires." Eren replied with a smile. "And if there is a problem with living expenses, I will happily work with you and your family to work with it." The assassin looked at Eren warily.

"What could a demon gain by helping an assassin that was after their life?" He asked.

"Nothing." Eren said with a shrug. "The satisfaction that a family isn't going to be on the street or unable to feed themselves." The assassin stared at Eren in surprise, but before he could say anything, Levi announced that the questioning was done, and after waving to the assassin, Eren followed Levi to Kiku, the fire on his tails burning brighter and slightly bigger. Once in front of the cell, Kiku glared out at Eren.

"What is that thing doing here?" Kiku asked.

"I'm asking the questions." Levi said, voice like silk that smothered you in the night. "Why did you hire someone to take Eren's life?"

"Because that thing you married disrespected me."

"Is that all?" Levi asked, arms crossing over his chest. Kiku looked offended that the question even needed to be asked.

"Of course it is! That wretch-"

"I've been disrespecting you for years." Levi cut in. "You've embarrassed yourself in front of the noble consul for even longer. You've disrespected AND dishonored the royal family for the same amount of time. And now, because of your actions, the man you vowed to always be loyal to, is dead."

"I didn't know that the emperor would jump to protect some... thing-"

"You knew he had been trying to get me to marry and bring my family an heir since my sixteenth year. And since Eren happens to be pregnant with that heir, it is only natural that he would protect the one carrying the heir, considering all the fighting we had about me finding a wife and finally finding one." Levi countered.

"He had been deceived. As have you-"

"I believe it had already been explained that Levi knew full well that he was marrying a kitsune." Eren interrupted, flicking one of his tails. "Levi was never deceived. I had explained everything to him before he began to court me, and Armin filled in the information I had overlooked. Lady Mikasa even knew, and knew of my nature long before my husband did. As Levi's self appointed guardian, I thought it would be easier on him and his heart if he could have a male lover that could bring him an heir. Considering that Kitsune can change their sex at will, I was an ideal candidate."

"So this entire thing is a negotiation?" Kiku asked. Eren smiled wide.

"Nope. I am truly in love with Levi, as he is with I. If you would clean your ego out of your ears, you would have heard me say male lover." Eren explained.

"You just want the crown!" Kiku accused.

"If I wanted the crown," Eren said as he stepped forward. "I would have killed the emperor. As a Zenko Kitsune, killing a human that I had vowed to protect would be the greatest dishonor to Inari-Kami. I had no plan to kill the emperor, and watching a human that was meant to be under my protection die protecting me, is one of the greatest tragedies a Kitsune can witness." Eren's hand encircled the bar. "Because of you, someone important to me died." Fire tickled in Eren's breath.

"Fox." Levi said, putting a hand on Eren's shoulder. "We are here to question him, not threaten." Eren sighed, fire sizzling off from his breath as he stepped back and leaned against the wall, golden eyes glowing in the light of the fire from the torches, giving them an ethereal look that made Kiku's blood run cold.

"Where was I, oh yes." Levi said, turning back to Kiku. "Three accounts of treason are on your head. After I deal with the uproar caused with the reveal of Eren's nature, you won't be able to spout any of your usual shit."

"My Lord, I am a loyal noble to the pala-"

"You attacked my husband and child" Levi said, voice cold enough that the fire on Eren's tails actually died down as they wrapped around his stomach. "You killed my father."

"That was the assassin-"

"That you hired." Levi hissed. "He was doing his job. What did you do when he said he killed the emperor and would need you to double or triple your price if you wanted him to continue his assignment?"

"I-I.... I told him I'd pay him what he needed to take out your wedded." Kiku responded, paling once the words left his mouth.

"You show no remorse for taking my father's life. And I shall show none once I take yours." Levi said, and he and Eren left a quivering and begging Kiku in the dungeons.