MARRIED TO A KITSUNE

CHAPTER V

King Takano and the Queen Aki stood a few inches behind Yuuji.

The families of the groom and bride are distinguish because they were seated in separate columns, separated by an aisle that was sprinkled up with sakura leaves. Minori and Toshi were sitting in the middle of Hiro, the family butler.

Katsumi appeared and marchs slowly towards Yuuji, her lips was fixed in a sweet smile, knowing that all eyes are in awe of her legendary beauty. Like Yuuji, Katsumi came from a family of zenko, but they are black foxes and when in human form she had a long black hair, big black eyes and a smile that can swoon every kitsune in their kingdom. Her six tails were shined and combed and she was wearing a beautiful white kimono that matches Yuuji's. Her head is cloaked with a wataboshi or white hood that reaches down to the floor.

"Isn't she a gem?" Yuuji whispered to his father, smiling from ear to ear.

"You are overreacting." King Takano replied.

Yuuji took the initiative and meet Katsumi five steps before she reached the center. He bowed to her parents standing across the King and Queen. Katsumi streched her left hand and Yuuji reached for it, then they both faced Youichi-sensei, the master who will lead them to the wedding vows.

Youichi-sensei cleared his throat before speaking. "Today, we will witness the union of Yuuji-sama and his bride Katsumi-sama." He summoned a young kitsune spirit, Kenta, to bring in the wedding rings.

The couple watched Kenta brought in the celestial diamond in front of them. Katsumi picked one and slowly put it to Yuuji's ring finger. "I am yours and you are mine, may the great Inari-sama binds our promise forever." she said without looking away from Yuuji's stormy gray eyes. When the ring fits, it glows and vanishes, leaving an elegant tattoo on Yuuji's finger that means the vow was sealed.

It was Yuuji's turn to put the ring to Katsumi's hand. He picked it up and utter the same words Katsumi said. "I am yours and you are mine, may the great Inari-sama binds our promise forever." Before Yuuji can slip the ring to her, it glows brightly and much to everyone's surprise, it vanished.

Katsumi held up her hand, her ring finger doesn't have the tattoo that was supposed to be where Yuuji's pearl life is.

----

Honoree was in awe of how fast everything happen.

After eating the shabu shabu, she noticed a small red zabuton beside the table with two diamond rings above it. Who would leave such precious materials here?

She was mesmerized by the glowing light eminating from the rings, so she thought that it wouldn't be a crime if she just inspect it.

"This probably cost a million-dollar." she whispered.

When she slip the ring into her ring finger, it suddenly glows brightly and vanishes, leaving an elegant tattoo on her skin. Panic arises into her as she realized that the ring dissapears into thin air.

She searched for it under the mini table and the zabuton from where it was placed earlier. Now, both of the rings are nowhere. Is it just her imagination? Are there really rings in the zabuton? She held up her hand and pinch her cheeks. The tattoo on her ring finger is still there so it means she isn't dreaming.

Honoree blindly crawl, with her hands patting the floor in hope that she may stumble on the rings. Where did the rings go?

Then as if by chance, she touched the feet of a person wearing a white sock. Without looking up, she snap her hand back and apologize to the stranger.

"You!" the stranger shouts. "Do you know exactly what did you do?"

Honoree quickly looked up and met the stranger's eyes. Her big eyes widen as she saw that she was staring at the most handsome creature she had ever laid eyes on. He has shining silver hair, and is that ears? Yuuji was looking down on her with his arms crossed on his chest. His cheeks going pink in anger.

It took Honoree several minutes to stood up and blink her eyes to make sure she isn't really dreaming. Then as if by instinct, she moves closer to Yuuji and touched his ears above his head. Yuuji is four feet taller that her and his face's going crimson red as he felt Honoree's hands on his ears. Honoree quickly withdraw her hands, shocked that those ears were warm and real. She glanced over his shoulder and noticed that he has five swaying fox's tails behind him.

Honoree gasped, giving off a little cry, she took several step backwards. She had no weapon in hand so she tried to run.

"Where do you think you're going?" Yuuji asked, blocking her way.

"I.. I don't know what you are but if you touch me I'll shout!" Honoree warned. This must be the encounter to a kitsune deity her Ojii-san tries to make her believe. "You're not real! I must be dreaming! Or hungry!"

Yuuji raised an eyebrow and before he could spit out something to Honoree, a white smoke burst out on their left and another kitsune spirit appeared in a form of an eight year old boy. It was Kenta, the ring bearer. He has two tails swaying in diferrent directions behind him.

"What are you doing here?" Yuuji shouts.

Kenta seemed to not notice him, instead he move closer to Honoree and sniff her. Instead of hands, Kenta has paws. He tiptoed to take a closer look at Honoree's face. Honoree held out his pointer finger and push it to Kenta's cheek. She let out a small cry again. "Oh my goodness! You're real!!" she said.

Kenta grabbed her wrist and saw the tattoo on her ring finger. His lips curled up in a clever wide smile. "Aha! She's your wife now Yuuji-sama!" he cheered.

"Do you think this is a joke!"

Honoree shifts her gaze from Yuuji to Kenta and then back to Yuuji again.

"Look at her Yuuji-sama, isn't she a beauty." Kenta said, sniffing Honoree again, his eyes slowly widen as he realized what rudeness it is for not introducing themselves to her first. "Forgive me Ojou-sama*, I want you to meet your husband from this day forward, the prince of the Kitsune Deities pack, Yuuji-sama and yours truly, but a humble servant, Kenta. Ojou-sama's name is?"

Honoree finds her voice but her eyes suggest that she's beginning to realize the gravity of the situation. She dropped to her knees and held up her hands in a praying position. "Tell me this isn't real!"

Kenta and Yuuji laughs.

"Humans, they're just plain stupid. What is this shrine for if the kamis you worship isn't real." Yuuji retorted.

Kenta lift his paws to silence him. "What are you anyway? You don't look like japanese."

"I am only a half japanese, kitsune-sama." Honoree answered.

"You can call me Kenta-kun."

"Kenta-kun." she repeated. "What exactly did I do to disturb you guys?" she asked in pure curiosity.

"We are the ones who should receive an explanation!" Yuuji shouts. "What did you do to the food and the rings!"

"I.. I ate the shabu shabu." Honoree confesses. "And I tried the ring" she held out her hands again, in a praying position again, and said. "Forgive me Yuuji-sama, I wouldn't do it again, I promise!"

Yuuji turns red, with his fist clenched tight, he threatens Honoree. "You stupid human girl! Im going to eat you!"