Chapter 209 — A Choice to Make

Koneko

“The way Yuki-chan sees herself is obviously an issue, but what do you want to talk about regarding the three of us?” Akeno-senpai asked quietly.

I continued to stroke Yuki-senpai’s head.

I gently ran my fingers through her hair and brushed them against one of her ears.

It twitched for a moment and Yuki-senpai made a quiet grumbling sound as she shifted slightly in her sleep. 

I smiled at her before looking at Akeno-senpai.

“…We should start with what Yuki-senpai said about not being deserving of love. She must be traumatized by what we did to her by her previous [Kings] and by her last relationship. From what she told me, she dated an older woman in one of her peerages. After they slept together, Yuki-senpai broke down and told her about the abuse she had gone through under her previous [Kings]. Her girlfriend reacted badly and called her horrible names and slandered her to the other members of her peerage. That’s why she said she had experienced it in the past. Because of that woman, Yuki-senpai thinks that she’s tainted by what happened to her, and no one would be willing to look past that.”

I kept my voice even as I spoke.

Inside I wanted to cry and hold Yuki-senpai closer or find Selene, the woman who hurt Yuki-senpai so badly, and break her.

Akeno-senpai’s face became dark with anger as I briefly explained what Selene had done to Yuki-senpai.

Her hands sparked for a second before she clenched them.

I shivered slightly as her eyes became harsh before she closed them and took a deep breath.

“Alright… I can think of what I’m going to do to that bitch when I find her later,” Akeno-senpai said in a harsh tone. “It’s more important that we help Yuki-chan see that the way she views herself is wrong.”

“…It won’t be easy. Yuki-senpai is stubborn and has been treated horribly for so long that to her, it’s natural and makes perfect sense that no one would love her,” I said as I looked back down at Yuki-senpai. “She didn’t sound upset when she said it. It was like she was explaining something simple and logical.”

“I think that she still wants to be with someone. To have someone to love and be in a relationship with. We spoke about it a bit before you came in. But she thinks that even if she wants it, it’s never going to happen so she holds herself back.”

I sighed.

“We will have to be slow and patient with her or something huge will have to happen for her to realize she’s wrong… It’s good that you didn’t tell her how you feel about her. Even though it was a lie, if you had told her that you have feelings for her instead of saying you’re just messing around. She likely would have denied what you said and pushed you away because of it. She’s not ready for that yet and will likely dig her heels in saying she’s right at the moment.”

Akeno-senpai smiled softly.

“I was worried you might be upset with me for avoiding saying it. I don’t know if I could handle Yuki-chan trying to distance herself from me. Especially right now.”

I looked Akeno-senpai in the eye.

Her smile became smaller as she noticed the serious look I was giving her.

“That's the other thing we need to speak about. Were you avoiding saying it for Yuki-senpai, or for yourself? I know that you’re interested in Issei-senpai too, but you’re going to have to choose one of them.”

It was a bit harsh of me to demand of her, but it was for Yuki-senpai.

It wasn’t just me trying to get rid of competition.

Akeno-senpai looked down at her lap.

“I… I’m not certain of who I’d rather be with yet. I like both Ise-kun and Yuki-chan but if you asked me to pick one right now, I wouldn’t be able to.”

“I understand that it’s hard Akeno-senpai, but you’re going to have to eventually. Even if Issei-senpai doesn’t act like it much, he is a Dragon. And both Dragons and Kitsune are territorial. Neither will want to share. More importantly is how Yuki-senpai would react to seeing you be interested in someone else after you tell her that you like her. If you had told her that you do like her and then she saw you flirting with Issei-senpai tomorrow, she would think that she was right that you didn't really want her. Or she might think that she’s only going to be in the way of you and Issei-senpai.”

Akeno-senpai placed a hand over her forehead.

“You’re probably right… I just need more time before I can make that decision though… I like things about Ise-kun and about Yuki-chan, but I don’t know who I should be with. And even if I pick Yuki-chan, she might not return my feelings. She might just push me away saying that my feelings for her are wrong. But I don’t want to just give up on her because of this.”

I nodded.

I understood her worry.

I knew that being with Yuki-senpai would be difficult.

She had a lot of pain and trauma that she would need help to overcome.

But I already knew that and I had made my decision.

“You’re right. Getting Yuki-senpai to accept my feelings for her will be hard. And it might take a very long time, or she might never reciprocate them. But I love her. It won’t be easy for me to be with her, but as long as she understands that she deserves to be with someone and that someone does love her, then I’ll be happy.”

Akeno-senpai looked at me for a moment before looking down at Yuki-senpai.

“I will need more time before I figure out who I want to be with. But I won’t hurt Yuki-chan in the process. And no matter what I will help to get her to see that she deserves love.”

“Thank you, Akeno-senpai.”

The room was quiet for a few minutes until Akeno-senpai spoke again.

“So, you’re in love with her?” She asked with a grin. “Maybe once we get her to understand that there’s nothing wrong with her I could swoop in and steal her all for myself.”

I shot her an annoyed glare.

“Yuki-senpai will likely have a harem, so I’ll have to share her, but I’m going to be the head of it,” I replied, puffing myself up a bit. “Nekomata will try to find a mate that impresses them with their power or abilities, so it’s common for us to end up with a mate that has other partners.” 

Akeno-senpai chuckled.

“Fufufufu. So you’ll be the head wife, is that right? Then like I’ve told Rias, maybe I’ll steal a match on you and have an affair with Yuki-chan.  That sounds interesting, doesn’t it?” Akeno-senpai said and then paused. “But I don’t think Yuki-chan would be one to want a harem. It will be hard enough to get her to accept one person's feelings.”

I shook my head.

“…You might be right, but it’s pretty normal for Kitsune to have more than one partner. I’ve read a bit more about Kitsune, and Yuki-senpai mentioned that Kitsune are known to have multiple partners when they have more tails, and they’re known as seducers for a reason.”

Akeno-senpai’s grin widened.

“Oh? You’ve been studying what mating habits Kitsune like Yuki-chan will have? Fufufufu, is our peerage’s kitty going to be able to hold herself back long enough from trying to claim our fox?”

I felt my cheeks heat up.

“I wanted to know more about her. I’m not a pervert like you and Issei-senpai.”

“Fufufufu. Really? I'm not sure I believe you.”

I let out an annoyed huff and then calmed down when Yuki-senpai turned her head in her sleep.

“Yuki-senpai had mentioned a few things about Kitsune relationships and I wanted to know more. From what I read Yuki-senpai wasn’t exaggerating when she told me that more powerful Kitsune normally have multiple partners and are romantically aggressive,” I felt my cheeks warm again. “From what I read she was actually underselling it. If what I read was true, another reason Kitsune take multiple partners is that they need enough to… keep up with their desires.”

One of Akeno-senpai’s eyebrows rose.

She glanced at Yuki-senpai and then back at me.

“That is rather interesting, Koneko-chan… You’re making it harder for me not to keep my hands to myself around Yuki-chan.” Akeno-senpai said with a lecherous grin.

I rolled my eyes at her. 

“… We should get to sleep. We can talk about what to do to help Yuki-senpai later. And Akeno-senpai, you'll have to choose who you want to be with eventually so until then please don’t hurt Yuki-senpai,” I said quietly.

Akeno-senpai’s expression fell. 

“I know, and I won’t... I just need more time.”

“I understand. Thank you, Akeno-senpai.”

I lay down next to Yuki-senpai.

She was still lying on her back, so I placed my head on her shoulder and gently hugged her as I lay on my side.

Akeno-senpai lay on Yuki-senpai's other side and placed her head on her chest just below her shoulder.

She draped an arm over Yuki-senpai.

I snuggled closer to Yuki-senpai as I felt her tails shift and one of them moved to rest on me.

I closed my eyes and let myself drift off beside her.

It would be very difficult to get Yuki-senpai to realize she was wrong about herself. 

But I would manage it.

I wouldn’t let myself fail.

___

Yuki

After waking and getting ready for the day, Koneko and I headed down to train in one of the rooms on the basement floor.

I had missed a chance to get more training in last night due to Akeno claiming her reward.

Now Koneko and I would be having a short session before we had breakfast with everyone else.

I had asked Akeno if she would like to join us to train but she had declined saying that she would be helping make breakfast for everyone today.

So now Koneko and I were in one of the practice rooms.

I was in my true form as I wanted to get more familiar with it and to try and build my strength as it had been a long time since I was able to use it.

Koneko was practicing her Senjutsu by using her Toki to launch pieces of practice targets at me.

I leapt over one of the pieces of stone Koneko launched at me.

I landed and opened my maw and fired a ball of fox fire at another one of the stones Koneko had launched at me. 

The stone broke apart and I dashed forward to continue dodging.

I jumped and formed foot holds out of my Shadow Briar to run along from the shadows cast along the wall of the room.

Koneko sent a series of rapid attacks at me.

I blinked forward with Misstep and continued running along the edge of the room.

But now I could feel myself slowing down as I ran.

Another of Koneko’s attacks was rapidly approaching me.

I turned and fired a ball of fox fire at it like before, but this time I was too slow.

My attack still managed to destroy the stone, but the fragments of it managed to reach me and hit my flank.

I let out a pained yelp as I fell to the ground.

“Yuki-senpai! Are you alright?”

“I’m… I’m fine, Koneko-chan. It’s nothing… nothing that I can’t walk off,” I said as I panted.

I stood and began walking to try and stretch my right rear leg that had been hit.

I was limping slightly, but otherwise was fine.

Koneko was watching me with concern from nearby.

At first, she had been hesitant to attack me in my weaker fox form.

But after I dodged or deflected her first handful of attacks, she was able to relax and fully focus on training. 

The issue was that my true form felt weak and sluggish.

I couldn’t run at my full speed for very long; I became winded easily, and my limbs felt weak.

The only current improvement of my true form over my human form was that I had more control and a bit more power in my tail abilities.

My physical state in my true state was poor, and I couldn’t use any of my curse spells while in this form.

I didn’t know if I hadn’t figured out how to cast my spells while as a fox, or if I would never be able to.

For now, my only other means of attack besides my tail abilities was my fox fire.

Thankfully it worked in this form and it was more potent in my true form. 

I normally didn’t use it in fights as my curses were more versatile and powerful.

“…Do you want to take a break, senpai?” Koneko asked. “Or we could finish now. Breakfast is probably almost ready.”

I shook my head.

“No. I’d like to do the same exercise again one more time. I just need a moment to catch my breath.”

Koneko frowned at me.

“…Fine. But let me use my Senjutsu to help you recover quicker.”

I nodded.

She approached me and placed a hand against my leg that had been hurt.

I forced myself not to react as I felt her fingers move through my fur.

I had gotten a bit better at reigning in my instincts in this form, but I still had to stop myself from growling or reacting to people when they got too close.

It was something that I would improve with over time, but it was frustrating to feel the effects of the time I lost when I could have been mastering my true form.

Koneko’s hand began to glow and I immediately felt the familiar warmth of her Senjutsu.

I let out a sigh as the pain began to fade from the bruises I had received. 

“Thank you, Koneko-chan.”

She nodded.

“Of course, senpai. I don’t want you to be hurt. But with Asia-senpai and me, you would be bedridden from how hard you’ve been pushing yourself.”

She wasn’t wrong but I still needed to do it. 

I had to improve in any way I could.

I needed to be able to protect her and everyone else in my peerage. 

I couldn’t be useless again.

“You’re right. But I need to train harder than before. I have more abilities to master than before and I need to relearn how to use my true form effectively.”

Koneko let out a sigh as she removed her hand from my side.

“…I know. I’m just worried about you. We all are.”

I tilted my head to look up at Koneko’s face.

It was strange to be the smaller one.

It was also another reminder that my true form was weaker than it should be.

With five tails I should be much larger.

On top of that, my body felt weak and my figure looked gaunt.

Whether it was the length of time I lost access to it, my remaining seals, or something else that had stunted my form's physical state, I wasn’t sure. 

“I know. But I’ll be fine. I have you and everyone else looking out for me.”

Koneko stared at me for a moment before nodding again. 

“…Alright. Let’s try that one more time and then we are going to get breakfast.”

I was about to agree when the door to the training room opened.

Koneko and I turned to see Rias walk into the room. 

“Good. You’re at a stopping point,” Rias said as she looked between us. “Good morning Yuki, Koneko. I know this is sudden but I want you to come with me.”

“What’s going on, Buchou?” Koneko asked.

“I spoke with Odin-sama and got him to agree to inspect Yuki again now that she can access her fox form,” Rias said with a smile, then she frowned. “That old pervert has been busy visiting sites all over Japan since he first inspected Yuki and I finally got him to give us some of his time to do it again.”

“That’s great. Thank you, Buchou. Where do we need to go?” I asked.

“He’s waiting in the kitchen. Asia and Akeno are making breakfast and Xenovia is trying to help. He said he would be watching them while he waits for us.”

My anger spiked as I heard that Odin-sama was leering at my friends.

I couldn’t stop myself as a growl slipped out.

“I’m sorry,” I said, apologizing for my outburst. “It’s a lot… harder to rein in my emotions while in my true form. I’ll be able to handle it better given enough time.”

Rias chuckled.

“It’s fine, Yuki. I understand why you’d be annoyed by Odin-sama’s behavior. But you need to keep in mind that he is the leader of the Norse gods, and our alliance is trying to form ties with his faction.”

“I’m aware, Buchou. I won’t let it happen again.”

“Now, let’s go meet with Odin-sama. Everyone else should be there waiting for us by the time we get there,” Rias said as she turned and led us out of the room.

Koneko and I followed.

I stayed in my true form as we walked through the halls of the basement. 

Hopefully Odin-sama would be able to give me more information about my seals and myself. 

I’d finally get some real answers.