Quoted By:
<span class="mu-s">“I don't see why I have to save you too. I don't mind missing out on a few fox tails.”</span> you said with a shrug. <span class="mu-s">“I've lived my whole life without them.”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“I can tell. It doesn't look like you've groomed them at all.”</span> she pointed out. Meanwhile, her own tails looked so soft and fluffy that you thought you might be able to just lay down and take a nap on them.
<span class="mu-s">“It wasn't exactly at the top of my priority list. I've had a lot going these past few days…”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“I know. Sort of.”</span> Ami Han corrected. <span class="mu-s">“But think of how much easier your life would get if you actually knew how to use all that power. Think of all the good you could do.”</span>
You scoffed at her.
<span class="mu-s">“Like you care.”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“But <span class="mu-i">you</span> do.”</span> she shot back. <span class="mu-s">“Think about it. That fight you had with Varnae. Can you ever, in your entire life, remember being that strong or fast? You have access to power that would take most foxes <span class="mu-i">centuries</span> to cultivate, and you've barely scratched the surface!”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“And you're offering to teach me to use it.”</span> you concluded.
<span class="mu-s">“We'd have to talk about it with your parents, but uh…sure.”</span> she agreed, with some hesitance.
<span class="mu-s">“Oh, yeah. I'm sure my parents will be thrilled when they learn they'll need to protect me from dying at the hands of a fox demon. Again.”</span> you said flatly. <span class="mu-s">“Is there a loyalty rewards punch card for that sort of thing?”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“How many times are you willing to experience it?”</span> she asked.
You arched an eyebrow at her, and she raised her hands in a placating gesture.
<span class="mu-s">“I don't expect them to forgive, or even trust me. That's why I…need your help in convincing them.”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“It won't be easy.”</span> you said, taking a sip of your tea. It tasted more normal now.
Ami Han was offering to teach you how to be the best fox demon you could be, but only if you helped protect her from Tamamo. It was a somewhat attractive offer, but you had no real way of verifying whether any of this was actually true. She could be lying about everything. To what end, you didn't know.
<span class="mu-s">“How'd you escape banishment, anyway?”</span> you asked after setting down your cup. <span class="mu-s">“Did it involve you doing something to piss off Tamamo no Mae?”</span>
She waved a hand dismissively at that statement.
<span class="mu-s">“Of course not. I had to transmigrate my own soul whilst shackled to a boulder that couldn't be pushed or broken. Then, without any tangible senses to help me navigate, I found my way to a cult of buffoons, manifested my astral projection to look like their stupid butterfly goddess, and managed to walk them through the ritual through a series of specific illusions that I disguised as prophetic visions.”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“Uh-huh…”</span>
You took another sip.
<span class="mu-s">“How did your soul make it back to the mortal plane?”</span>
She gave you a smug grin, and began admiring her nails while using the other arm to prop up her chest.
<span class="mu-s">“Hm. I took a page out of the Buddha's book.”</span>
You tilted your head in confusion.
(Cont.)
