Simple answer : where Rei is going.

This reunion was really quick to you, to Rei too you guessed, but you could only guess, since she didn't say a word about it, only heading to the shrine, at least you assumed it was the shrine, since you didn't know anything about this village. All of the vixens stopping to glance at you was also something you really didn't like.

"I am so sorry for my father's reaction, Adam." Rei eventually said while walking. "I didn't think he would still be this upset about our past, but I guess it makes sense, since it looks like he isn't the only one still upset."

"You don't need to apologize for him you know." You replied in a soft tone. "I mean, I didn't like how he spoke about me, but I can also understand, since your mother has been kidnapped. He's just anxious, that's it."

This time, it was Rei who didn't answer, which was highly unusual for her, but you could understand why, since you talked about a fairly sensitive matter here. It resulted in the end of the walk being completely silent, until you arrived at the shrine.

This shrine was like everything else in this village, completely Japanese themed : it was a classic shinto shrine, quite small and lodged in the middle of three cherry blossom trees on top of a small hill, with a dirt path leading up to it. The only thing that you thought when you saw it was that it would be much better if it was enclosed, since the ones who would come here would be able to pray while shielded from whatever element may be a nuisance otherwise.

You didn't have a whole lot of time to elaborate on this thought though, since a voice suddenly rose from behind your and Rei's backs, startling you quite a bit.

"Rei ! It's been so long since I've last seen you !"

With that said, it wasn't surprising if Rei recognized said voice, and when the both of you turned around, she exclaimed.

"Fuyu ! How long has it even been, a year ? Anyway, I'm so glad to see you again !"

Before she rushed up to Fuyu to hug her tightly. From what you could see, Fuyu was a kitsune, wearing a deep blue winter coat ending at her knee, even thouhg it was open from the top of her thighs down to her knees, with a cloak of the same color, which ended at her abdomen. The cloak had fur on its inside and edges, and looked like it had no hood. She also was wearing black stocking along with black boots. Again, from what you could see, she had medium sized breasts at best, but she looked quite energetic and she looked like she took a lot of care of her body. She had red eyes and silver hair, some of which had been tied in a small ponytail, while the rest of it was flowing freely in her back. Her fox ears and three fox tails were of the same silver color, although their tips were a dark blue color.

Well, something about her was intriguing you, to say the least : how could she only have three tails ? Weren't kitsunes supposed to have nine tails ? That was a question that you wouldn't like to let unanswered for once, and so you started by saying.

"Humm... Glad to know you Fuyu, I guess ? I don't know, I've been getting all sorts of weird looks since I arrived in this village."

When she heard you speaking, Fuyu looked at you, before breaking the hug with Rei to come up to you, right in front of you, with Rei following closely, as Fuyu got a close look at you, her ears perked up and her three tails wagging independantly from one another.

"I can see why you got weird looks." She started by saying. "A human copming to this village did not happen since the last century at least. I myself, even while being 80 years old, haven't seen any human before you. And by the way, what's your name ?"

Now you have two questions...

"Well, my name's Adam." You start by answering. "But hold on for a second here, how can you be 80 years old when you look 20 at most, and you do you only have three tails ? Isn't a kitsune supposed to have nine tails or something like that ?"

As you were asking your question, a book appeared in Fuyu's hand, in which she started to write as she mumbled.

"So you're Adam... Normal human from the looks of it, but it seems like you're gifted by the gods, how lucky of you..." After she finished writing in her book, she simply closed it, the book disappearing moments later, before she finally answered your question. "As for your questions, it's a simple answer : a kitsune finishes their growth at 80 years old, which is the equivalent for a human hitting their twenties. So the me you can see right now is the me that you will see in the future. For your other question about my tails, a kitsune is born with a set amount of tails representing their power, which can go from one to nine. I am born with three tails. A kitsune can also gain more power, thus more tails, only by sexually absorbing human fluids, may they be male or female, even though male fluids are usually far more potent. A great example of this is "the Goddess Kitsune", who was born naturally with nine tails, but still absorbed a lot of power. She now is one of the most powerful beings in this world."

You were left dumbfounded by this information. After all, you just learned that kitsunes could get more power just by having sex... Now you wondered just how powerful Shirayuki was born...

"Well, this isn't the subject really, Fuyu." Rei eventually said. "We came here to have you tell us how my mother got kidnapped after all..."

"Oh, that..." Fuyu replied, her ears instantly drooping. "That's not a nice story..."