2nd Tail - Original Recipe Kitsune

[whatthefoxsay]

Kira could be thankful that when she ended up in the forest, she had her katana with her. Maybe she would have been able to defend herself without it, but she didn't want to think about having to try.

On the first day, she spends most of her time keeping her distance from others, confused by how some of them seem inclined to steer clear of her in turn. By the second day she's to encounter Allison, and with a better understanding of what's going on, she spends the rest of her time trying to search for other benevolent souls and protect them. When she encounters people she believes are good or in need of protection, Kira teaches them a kanji that they can use to indicate they have been in contact with her.

When necessary she tries to pretend she's the nogitsune. She doesn't want to hurt - she hates the idea of having to kill - but she's prepared to defend herself if she has to. When she can, she runs unless forced to fight. She just wants to make it through however long it'll take to get safely back to the barge.

Comments

Day 2

[voluntaryapnea]

She's the one person on the Barge he tries the hardest to avoid. The nogitsune is terrifying, even to a werewolf. It feeds on chaos and pain and strife and it doesn't care who it's feeding from. It's unlike anything he's ever seen or even heard of.

When he sees her, he ducks behind a tree, pressing himself back against it and cursing himself for being so stupid.

[whatthefoxsay]

She saw him.

At first she can't imagine why Stiles would possibly hide from her, and then oh yes, it must mean he thinks she's the nogitsune, which means in turn she's not sure if he's the Stiles she knows. Going through this every time she sees a familiar face is taxing on her spirit.

She remains quiet, doesn't call out. But she does frown pointedly in the direction of the true. Crossing her arms over her chest, she calls out, perhaps ominously, "I know you're there."

[voluntaryapnea]

He's definitely not the Stiles she knows. He grits his teeth when she calls out, and yes, it sounds vaguely ominous. But he listens not just to the words, but also to her heartbeat. It's a little faster than usual. The nogitsune's heartbeat rarely elevates for any reason. There's no reason for it to. It has nothing to fear.

But there's a hint of fear in her scent, too.

She isn't the nogitsune, he realizes, relaxing and then letting a smirk spread across his lips before stepping out from behind the tree, looking over at her. "Astute senses."

[whatthefoxsay]

If there's one thing that Kira's mother taught her, it's that the most common mistake people make about fear is the assumption that it renders a person incapable. Bravery is not the absence of fear, it's the willing to do what's necessary despite it.

She doesn't have to have his scent to know he's not the Stiles she's friends with. Her arms drop, seemingly casually - but rather more to keep her hand close to her sword.

And she decides not to waste time with games. "So how are you different?" she asks bluntly.

[voluntaryapnea]

"What makes you think I'm the one who's different?" He cocks his head to the side, watching her, gaze following the drop of her hands to her sword. "Maybe you're the one who's different."

He takes a couple steps toward her, but still maintains his distance. "Are you gonna stab me with a sword?" There's mock fear in his voice.

[whatthefoxsay]

Without hesitation, Kira moves into a defensive position. There is no flinching. No appearance of doubt. This isn't her friend.

"If I have to." She doesn't want to. She doesn't want to hurt (kill, is whispered internally) a person with Stiles' face. But then again, she did it before, didn't she? Sort of.

She can do it again if she has to.

"If all you want to do is go on your way, I won't stop you. But if you think that I'm some kind of chew toy, you're going to be in some severe disappointment."

[voluntaryapnea]

"Oh my god. What's with everyone assuming I want to eat them just because I'm a werewolf?" He rolls his eyes, looking at her, annoyance clear on his face. "Do the werewolves you know actually eat people?"

He narrows his eyes at her defensive stance. "Bring it on, little fox."

[whatthefoxsay]

"Don't you know anything? Chew toys are for chewing on, not eating. God, that would totally bring on indigestion and the runs. I don't want to think about you having the runs. Stiles. I told you, I'd rather not fight you. And you seem pretty reluctant to get aggressive with me. So why don't we just both move along?"

[voluntaryapnea]

He glares at her, but doesn't advance on her, either. She's not the same Kira he knows, and he's glad because he'd already be in a world of hurt if she were. Truthfully he doesn't know what kind of powers and abilities she does possess.

He doesn't really want to find out, either. His eyes flash blue, but he doesn't shift. "Fine with me."

[whatthefoxsay]

That bit of blue hurts her soul a little bit. The idea of Stiles as a killer chills something inside of her, and she darts her chin in a random direction. "Go on then." she says stiffly. "Get a move on."

Seeing him like this makes her sad. He may see it in her eyes.

[voluntaryapnea]

"If you see Scott or Lydia...tell them I'm looking for them," he says casually as he moves past her, close but not actually touching her. Just close enough that he can feel her tension.

[whatthefoxsay]

The katana comes up again. He'll only get as close as she'll allow.

"Yeah, I bet you are."

[voluntaryapnea]

He smirks at her once more before heading away in the direction he'd been going when he'd first spotted her.