Lies. They had to be lies. And yet so much of what she said tickled at the corners of his mind, ringing with truths that clanged in his skull like huge bells. Bells of denial… and growing alarm, which began to drown out the denial, slowly but surely. “It is true that we have a number of your kind confined, here. The daimyo has long been making a study of them. It is a… curious fascination of his.” The slight hesitation in his sentence marked his keen understanding of exactly how far Zhang Ji’s “fascination” went, and perhaps indicating a slight lack of comfort with it, but he moved on quickly. “I visit them often, in my duties. Most of them, I have secured for the daimyo, personally. If what you say is true… then why would your mother not have spoken to me before? In this place, if she is treated as a guest, as you say, I assure you that she knows my name and face, at minimum.” That was another push back on her claims, but this one was less direct than the first, showing very subtly the doubt that was beginning to grow in his mind. He was still disbelieving… and yet, she had opened his mind enough to make him question, though not openly. “My eyes see much, and my enemies underestimate me for it. You would truly be foolish to do the same.” That was a bit sterner, but just as quickly, his tone becomes calm again. “It is an old piece, and went with my father to the battlefield. Imperfections are to be expected, not… replaced.” That was a very careful word choice, but the light in the single eye flashed a little, showing intensity of feeling. He sighed heavily, and shook his head. “If your mother is here, then it is worth more than my life to take you to her… but until I have all of my facts in order, it would not serve you well to remain here, for tonight.” He stands slowly, drawing his sword, though it rests guardedly in his hand, rather than actively between them. “Come. You will wait in interrogative chambers, until I have returned with my inquiries satisfied.”

Haruhi noticed that for the first time since they started having a conversation Taka seemed to be having a mental battle. So that meant he was no longer as dismissive of her words as he had been at the beginning. To be honest, if his Lord were a just man and her people, including Taka, were not in danger of suffering from his atrocious designs, she would not have told him the truth as he seemed happy and about to settle down for what she could gather. But it was not so, Zhang Ji lied to Taka all these years and captured his people and kept them as playthings only to get rid of them whenever others caught his eyes. In a way she was relieved that she was getting her message across although speaking with her mother might be the best solution, there was no way he could deny what Haruhi told him if he heard it from the lips of another who had not been in contact with her for a long time. There was no way he could think they orchestrated anything when neither of them knew Taka was in these lands, they thought him dead like his family. And, to be honest, she had no wish to remain in Zhang Ji’s chambers for she knew what his attentions entitled and due to the memories of her past she did not want to go through that once more. But then how could she avoid that while not doing anything that Taka would deem suspicious? If she was slowly earning his trust she had to ensure not to make any foolish moves in order to finally get him to see the truth. She allowed him some time to get his thoughts organised as he seemed hesitant to believe her completely. She knew it would be a shock to him, after all he had been living a lie for many years. She would also be in denial in his place.

“It is true that we have a number of your kind confined, here. The daimyo has long been making a study of them. It is a… curious fascination of his.”

Haruhi could not avoid looking away when he referred to their kind as her own only and when he described the atrocities he commited. She could sense his disapproval but it did not stop her hands to close into fists, “He has brought pain and destruction to many peaceful clans and all in order to keep them as sales or for his own piqued interest or amusement.” She still remembered the way he had tried to get close to her that morning. How could someone as king as Taka serve him willingly? She was more than certain that the bastard had his kitsune ball. She had to come up with a plan to steal it back and that should help Taka break free completely. She felt some tears in her eyes but she blinked them away. It was cruel what that man had done to Taka and their people. She wished she could just walk up to him and kill him on the spot, but she could not show any hostility until Taka had seen the truth and accepted it.

“I visit them often, in my duties. Most of them, I have secured for the daimyo, personally. If what you say is true… then why would your mother not have spoken to me before? In this place, if she is treated as a guest, as you say, I assure you that she knows my name and face, at minimum.”

This sewed fear into her heart and she looked up at him in shock. So the man had lied to her in order to get her dressed up and have his way with her? Her surprise morphed into anger, “If… if what you say is true then your Lord lied to me. He promised my mother was being treated as a guest and as long as I complied she would be safe.” She then shook her head in annoyance at believing anything he said, “If you have not seen her then she must be kept in the worst of places.” She felt tears in her eyes, how close she had been to suffering at his hands and all to be told her mother was not being treated as kindly as that man pretended. He truly was the worst kind of human being. She quickly dried her eyes fearing the worst. “What if he had thrown her in a prison cell somewhere or worse…” It has been months since I last saw her. The fear in her eyes was genuine, there was no way he could think she was trying to fool him, her hands shook in fear as she closed her hands into fists in order to contain the urge to run around the Palace looking for he mother.

“My eyes see much, and my enemies underestimate me for it. You would truly be foolish to do the same.”

She blinked for a moment in surprise, “What?” Her eyes did not leave his, was he still insisting that she wanted to trick him? Without her powers? With her mother probably locked up somewhere? With so many of her people being enslaved here? “What kind of a person do you take me for? I could never do anything that would hurt my beloved mother, wherever he might be holding her hostage, nor the people enslaved to his will. Besides, why would I do anything to harm you Taka?” She still had her honour and she was loyal to her people, she could not abandon them just because she wanted to run away herself. If it ever came to the point where one had to sacrifice for the many, she would gladly oblige. But she was no fool, Zhang Ji only spouted lies and she could not plan her next move unless she knew all the intricacies of her situation and that of her people, including Taka.

“It is an old piece, and went with my father to the battlefield. Imperfections are to be expected, not… replaced.”

She shook her head, “You need to stop telling yourself the lies that man has been telling you for years. All things are crafted and only the same artist can craft two identical copies, I made yours and mine, otherwise, how do you explain I have one just like yours, with the same imperfections?” She knew well enough that she had yet to reveal her name but she dared not say so this close to the lord, she did not want him to have anything of hers not even her name. The best course of action would be for them to find her mother, if he would still talk to her, she would come along just to ensure she was safe. Once she knew where she was she could help her escape, steal back Taka’s kitsune ball and help her people escape, but after that what would they do? He would keep hunting them down until he recaptured them one by one.

If your mother is here, then it is worth more than my life to take you to her… but until I have all of my facts in order, it would not serve you well to remain here, for tonight… Come. You will wait in interrogative chambers, until I have returned with my inquiries satisfied.”

She looked up at him with hope in her eyes, he would sacrifice his own well being in order to find Haruhi’s mother? She felt tears of gratitude in her eyes and could not stop herself from embracing him warmly for a moment whispering, “Thank you, she will confirm the whole truth about your past, she was good friends with your parents.” She then realised this reminded her of one of their childhood memories and she nearly smiled remembering. She then slowly pulled back and caressed his cheek softly before standing back realising she had probably been bold in her joy but she did not truly care at this point. “Is there… any chance at all I could come with you? I would very much like to see her, just to know he is safe.” She was a bit surprised that he wished to keep her away from Zhang Ji, but then again she would not oppose being anywhere else but within arm’s reach of that scoundrel.

Her shock was met only with grim expectancy, on his part. “Based upon what I know… I find it difficult to believe that any kitsune would be treated as an honored guest, in these halls.” He shook his head a bit. “All my life, I have been taught that kitsune, while sentient, are lesser so - more wild, and less civilized, requiring a strong hand to tame and command. Closer to animals than to humans.” He looks her up and down, expression unreadable, but without the lasciviousness that his master had shown earlier. It was true that his mind was deeply under the control of the daimyo - both through his kitsune ball, and through more common brainwash - but despite that, his genuine personality could not be completely repressed. He was an intelligent man, as accustomed to thinking through a problem as to battle, and without a consistent, deliberate reapplication of power from the kitsune ball, his thoughts were largely his own to command. “I must admit…in conversation with you, I find myself questioning that which I once believed was absolute truth.” That single silver eye considered her heavily for several long moments.



He once again seemed at war with himself, and reflected in a detached way that usually it was so rare an occurrence for him to be indecisive. He knew the truth… and yet every time this girl opened her mouth, she scattered all of his certainty to the wind. “And if what you say is true… why would a kitsune gift a bracelet to an orphan boy being raised to hunt her kind?” That was another weakening of mental barriers, wrapped thickly in suspicion, as if to hide how uncertain it made him feel. The unsettling metallic gaze held her fast for several seconds more before, at last, he sighed and gestured ahead of himself with his weapon. “Come. If your mother is here, there is only one place she could be. I will-” Her arms went around him, and he tensed beneath her grip, both stunned and alarmed as he immediately shifted his sword arm to be free of her hold, as if expecting an attack. Despite his alarm though, the blade never even grazed her, showing a level of mercy that the daimyo was often without, as she hadn’t yet attempted to injure him. At last, she drew back, and the little touch on his cheek caused a stirring deep within him that he neither understood nor acknowledged. Instead, he cleared his throat quietly, and gestured with the sword again as though nothing had occurred. “If she is here… then I have all rights to question her, which will get me past guards and gates unquestioned. You are fortunate in that I am second only to the daimyo, in these lands. Come.” He gestured again, clearly expecting her to precede him, showing that he was still unwilling to have her out of his sight, even safely within the well-armed walls. But his steps were soft and sure, showing he knew these halls well, and his voice was not unnecessarily cruel as he gave her verbal directions.



They went lower and lower through the castle as they moved, and with each level, the quality of the stonework and furnishings declined. Several guarded gates were opened questionlessly before them at a stern word from him, and when at last his brisk steps began to slow, they found themselves in a place where the stone walls crept with both moisture and crawling things, the lighting was dim, and the dual tang of iron and blood bit at sensitive nostrils. He sneezed a bit to clear the unpleasant odor from his nose, and reached silently for a torch, ensconced at the entrance of a long bay of cells, to avoid allowing the light to shine upon the prisoners themselves. His tone was grimmer and more of a quiet rumble when he once again said, “Come,” and led the way down the corridor.

”Based upon what I know… I find it difficult to believe that any kitsune would be treated as an honored guest, in these halls.”

If Haruhi had any hope left that Zhang Ji had kept her mother in a room somewhere as an ‘esteemed guest’ in order to get to her good graces, well, Taka’s words made her lose all hope and she could feel great pain knowing that her poor mother had been kept in a prison cell all this time. It made her feel overwhelmed with emotion, on the one hand she was deeply hurt that someone would do such a thing to an innocent person, second of all it made her feel a sorry she had not felt in years and a great level of powerless for all her powers were being blocked by powerful wards and she would not be surprised if the daimyo had ensured there were wards in every nook and cranny of this Palace of his. She looked down at the floor for a moment feeling tears in her eyes but she fought against an urge to cry for she had stopped herself ever since she arrived here. She did not want to appear weak and show the daimyo that he had great power over her, she did not want him to think he had won in any way and she did not want him close to her at all. This was an absolute nightmare, Zhang Ji had managed to find and enslave so many kitsune and not only that but he also had dear Taka at his every waking call. It disgusted her that a man with so much power would cause so much harm it made her determination strengthen to help Taka break free from his control, she would probably have to get the information from that lascivious old man as to the location of Taka’s kitsune ball and it would not be easy. She knew she would probably be at risk of being in a situation she had been trying to avoid all this time but it was the only way she could help Taka and in unison come up with a plan to help all the kitsune escape without their powers. Although, she was more than sure that Zhang Ji had sealed off all his powers for he did not seem to show any acknowledgement of his kitsune nature. He was an absolute monster, she would spit on his face if she could. Finally she blinked her tears away and looked back at Taka. If he thought she was in prison the more reason to release everyone from his control, she did not want to think of the things he must have done to so many of her people.

“All my life, I have been taught that kitsune, while sentient, are lesser so - more wild, and less civilized, requiring a strong hand to tame and command. Closer to animals than to humans.”

Haruhi felt a bit hurt and offended at those words, this was not directed at Taka for she now knew that he had been lied to since he was a young boy. The negative emotions were directed at Zhang Ji. Not only did he enslave, torture and abuse her people but she also brainwashed the young ones he could lay his hands on and pretend to be a good man. It disgusted her, she shook her head at his words, “No, we live in houses and villages and some traditions are very similar to humans. The only difference is we have magic abilities and transform into our animal spirit but we are a peaceful people and have been persecuted for many years, for as far as I can remember, by the daimyo of these lands. We lived at Mount Taikyoku when you and I met and that was before that village was destroyed and the survivors, we had to run and for many years we lived in peace in Sailo, until he found us again.” She wondered if he used Taka to track them down, she felt so sad that he had fallen into his hands to be ill used. She wondered if any of what she said rang any bells or sounded familiar, but then again he had been speaking with Haruhi for a little while and he still could not remember meeting her. That man had truly devoted his time to brainwashing him, all the lies he told him about his family and lineage, when that very man was his enemy. He was absolutely despicable and one day he would pay.

“I must admit…in conversation with you, I find myself questioning that which I once believed was absolute truth.”

She felt his eyes searching her as if he wished to find an easier way to know the truth. Haruhi then looked deeply into his eyes, could it be? So Zhang Ji had grown too confident that Taka would remain loyal to him and had not kept applying the control of his kitsune ball? She even wondered if he had ensured to watch his every move, she wouldn't be surprised if he was constantly watched, even his fiancée could be involved. And that would explain why they threw a net at her back at the river, someone must have seen her use her healing abilities on Taka. That meant she had to find his ball as soon as possible, “That man will tell you nothing but lies, I would not be surprised if he had eyes on you constantly but would not tell you so.” She even thought about that conversation Taka was having with Zhang Ji back in his chambers, under normal circumstances it could be interpreted as a man giving his General some time off to enjoy himself, but in this case, what if he wanted someone to keep a closer eye on him due to what had transpired that day? She would have to be careful as well, she did not want to cause Taka any trouble, especially when he had granted her some protection against that daimyo and his dark desires. She wondered if Taka knew where he kept his most prized possessions, but then why would he tell him if he suspected him? She would have to do some of her own research.

”And if what you say is true… why would a kitsune gift a bracelet to an orphan boy being raised to hunt her kind?”

She looked into his eyes with determination, “Well, first of all, your parents were alive and well back then and they were good friends with mine. Secondly, children do not differentiate over what adults do. They have a simpler view of the world, we were close and I wanted you to have something I made so that you would always remember and would keep me close to you. And this is the same reason that, after all these years, I have kept mine too.” She noticed the surprise on the young man’s countenance as she embraced him out of gratitude and she nearly regretted doing so for he was still suspicious of her. But he could not blame her for being grateful at the chance of seeing her poor mother. In a way she had done so to find something tangible to hold on to, she dreaded the state her mother must be in if she was being kept in a prison. But she had to be strong enough to face this just as she did with everything else.

“Come. If your mother is here, there is only one place she could be. I will-If she is here… then I have all rights to question her, which will get me past guards and gates unquestioned. You are fortunate in that I am second only to the daimyo, in these lands. Come.”

She felt her heartbeat increase both in dread and excitement to see her mother again. But she was also very afraid of what she might find. She nodded at his words, however, and braced herself for she needed to be strong. She walked right behind him and looked down when some of the guards would bring at her or look her up and down, unknowingly one of her hands reached for the back of his cloak as she looked at the looming darkness and her senses immediately picked up the darkness, the stench and all the horrible things experienced whenever entering prison grounds. And since she was a kitsune her senses were much more enhanced than those of a normal person and she found she had to cover her mouth and nose with one of her sleeves, while her other hand held on to his cloak tightly in dread. She was a bit surprised that he had been so suspicious of her but then he did not mind walking with her behind him. She heard him sneeze and that reminded her that he was indeed the Taka she remembered, he was a kitsune just like her. The deeper they went into the prison the more her heart sank, not only was she a prisoner but she was kept in the worst place possible? He was a despicable being! They reached a corridor and he beckoned her to keep following him, she felt the air be reduced to nearly non-existent in this part of the prison and she found herself gasping for air slightly, it was extremely cold and humid and the stench was such that she nearly threw up. But she kept on walking until she heard a weak voice, “Haruhi?” She gasped and sprinted toward the voice, “Mumma!”

With tears in her eyes she leaned down and placed her hands on hers, she looked malnourished and weak, nothing like the strong and proud woman she had always been. Haruhi felt utterly tormented by this, how could the daimyo do this to an innocent woman?She could see tears in the older woman’s eyes and she said, “Mother, I am so sorry, I did not know.” She smiled warmly at her daughter, “I’m glad to see you are okay.” It was then that her eyes looked up and she gasped, “Taka? What are you doing here?”

Haruhi sighed and then said, “I wanted you to talk to him, I’m pretty sure he was captured by the daimyo that day and they lied to him.” She gasped at Haruhi’s words and then said, “He must have his kitsune ball.” She nodded, “I’m planning to steal it back.” Her mother looked alarmed, “Haruhi, just, be careful, he is a very dangerous man.”

“I know mother but, Taka deserves to be free.” Despite her weakness, the older woman slowly stood up leaning her back against the wall and smiled at Taka, “You were so young when we last spoke, around ten, and I’m happy to see you still have the bracelet Haruhi made for you. She was so insistent back then, that she wanted to finish it before you went to the Temple. You are now a strong young man. I’m sure you have questions but be strong, son, because nothing about any of this is your doing but that mmonster alone.” Haruhi moved slightly so that her mother and Taka could have the conversation Haruhi promised him, after that she would do everything at hand to help free all of her people.

Occasionally, as they moved, a soft motion behind him - which he noted more with keen ears, than with knowledge of her touch - indicated the hold she took on his cloak, and though he never mentioned it aloud, or acknowledged it in any way, it deepened the feeling in the pit of his gut that demanded that he protect her. As a result of this, though he was unaware, many of the guards they left behind spoke of how ill at ease and defensive he’d seemed, which was so unusual for the young general as to bear mentioning. They’d left all that behind though, by the time they reached her mother. Most of the guards assigned to this area of the dungeons were not particularly thrilled by the post, and it was not infrequent to find that they refused to enter the cells proper, instead remaining outside the doors as much as possible to avoid the damp and stench. So it was that they approached the older kitsune alone, and his shock to see the conditions in which she was kept echoed in the silence.



He was so occupied by that thought that he didn’t even hear their conversation consciously, instead speaking the echo of his mind, when his name was called. “I’ll have the heads of every last guard in this palace, where I find complicity. Yes, we capture kitsune… but deprivation, torture...?” He shook his head, gravely disturbed, and called to the door in his most authoritative tone. “Guard! Come here!” His anger cracked like a whip, and the guard appeared, bowing and stammering. “What is the meaning of this? Funds are set aside to feed and house prisoners properly. What has been done with those funds?”



The petrified guard - a man slightly older than himself with a belly that indicated he enjoyed a bit more liquor than was likely forgivable for his station - bowed deeply, quivering. “Th-there-” A nervous swallow. “There have… been no funds relegated for that purpose, my general. “Kitchen scraps are provided, when they are available after the day’s meals, and-” A harsh curse interrupted him, and he backhanded the guard harshly, sending him careening against the wall with a clatter of armor against stone. Unaware of his own strength, due to the passion of his temper, he managed to knock the fellow out, though at least this was the worst harm done, and he whirled back to watch mother and daughter, openly horrified. “Preposterous! I’ll soon set this right…” He looked the older woman up and down, and then bent unceremoniously, retrieving keys from the unconscious guard’s belt and quickly unlocking her cell door. He bent to remove the accompanying shackles with a strangely gentle touch, and then wrapped an arm gingerly around the weakened kitsune. “Come, we’ll get you out of here… another night of the exposure in here, and you won’t see morning.” His gaze went to Haruhi. “If I get you out, can you get her home? I’ll have words with the daimyo in the morning - I swear to you both, this will be stopped. If he knew that this was happening…” He shook his head, still in disbelief.

“I’ll have the heads of every last guard in this palace, where I find complicity. Yes, we capture kitsune… but deprivation, torture...? Guard! Come here! What is the meaning of this? Funds are set aside to feed and house prisoners properly. What has been done with those funds?”

“Th-there-There have… been no funds relegated for that purpose, my general… Kitchen scraps are provided, when they are available after the day’s meals, and-”

Haruhi blushed lightly at the sight of Taka showing such strength and anger due to the way her mother Mitsuka had been treated under Zhang Ji and could not help but to smile lightly. That was the Taka she remembered, standing up for those in need he truly had a heart of gold. Her resolve to help him escape with them strengthened and she knew that if they were to escape victorious and get Taka’s kitsune ball back, they had to come up with a good plan before returning to the Palace. She could not let him sacrifice himself for her sake. Not after what his parents went through to protect him, Mitsuka knew and she also wanted to protect Taka. She did not want the sacrifice of Taka’s parents to be in vain. “Taka…” Haruhi whispered, he was such a noble man, she knew he was not fully involved in the misdeeds of the daimyo, especially after the way in which he saved her despite being gravely injured.

She turned to look at her mother, Mitsuka knew what was going through her mind and she nodded. As soon as her mother was free to go she would make sure to help Taka escape with her. She wondered if it would be possible to cause a diversion by releasing as many kitsune as possible. That might buy them some time.

“Preposterous! I’ll soon set this right…”

Haruhi had tears in her eyes when she embraced her mother once Taka helped break her free. She thought she would never see her again. Mitsuka caressed Haruhi’s hair gently knowing she must have been out there looking for her. She then whispered, “We have to get you and Taka to safety, he is a dangerous man.”

“Come, we’ll get you out of here… another night of the exposure in here, and you won’t see morning.”

Mitsuka smiled affectionately at Taka and then said, “your parents would never forgive me if I did not take you with me this time. They loved you dearly and fought to protect you until the very end. But that daimyo, that terrible man, he killed them. You must not go back to him; he will hurt you if you do.”

“If I get you out, can you get her home? I’ll have words with the daimyo in the morning - I swear to you both, this will be stopped. If he knew that this was happening…”

Haruhi moved toward Taka and caressed his cheek briefly, “I cannot leave you here to deal with that man, he still has your kitsune ball. You won’t be free until we do. We should come up with a plan, a diversion, and escape.” She then said, “Rhishiara and Takeo can help look after my mother while we find the kitsune ball and if we release several prisoners that could be the diversion we need. I know where he keeps your kitsune ball, I noticed earlier. Or, we could put sleeping powder in his tea and I could approach him tonight to ensure he drinks it and then we take the ball and release the kitsune.” Her second plan was riskier because she would be alone with that man and his dark desires and would have to ensure he drank his tea but she would do anything for the man who still preserved the bracelet she gave him when they were children, the same man who saved her life back at the river and the same man who rescued her mother no matter what punishment could befall him. She then took his hand and said, “I’m not leaving without you, not this time.”

Mitsuka remembered something and then went back to her cell and removed a small sachet from underneath some rocks. She shook the dirt off and then said, “This was your father’s ring, he would have wanted you to have it.” She handed it to Taka and then added, “I hope it brings your memories back and brings you some solace as well. Do not let Zhang Ji find out you have it, and I hope to see you both back at the village soon.” She placed a hand on Taka’s shoulder and then said, “I’m ready, I will gladly go with your wolf friends but make sure you both stay safe.”

Haruhi embraced her mother warmly and removed her cloak placing it around her shoulders as she nodded, “We will.” She then found a small rope and gently tied it around her mother’s wrists ensuring not to hurt her, she offered Taka the rope and said, “We must not make them suspect. Otherwise the guards will sound the alarm. I’ll be right behind with my mother walking behind you like a convict.”

Mitsula nodded, “I shall play my part.” Haruhi nodded and then waited for Taka to guide them out of the prison. Haruhi then thought for a moment and told Taka, “We might best keep this plan to ourselves if you like the idea, unless there is another strategy you think we can follow to leave this palace.” She was not sure how many people Taka trusted but there was a chance that most people were too loyal to the daimyo to give such friendship the importance it deserved.