The Fox Says

"Greetings, Master."

Walt stopped and bowed. "Good evening, Senko-san."

Senko smiled and returned the bow. "So formal already?"

Walt smiled. "It felt appropriate. Not everyday I do this... let alone with someone who I care about."

Senko reached up and cupped his face tenderly. "Me either. Infact I've never done this before..." she blushed. "But I'm happy to do it with you."

Walt kissed her hand. "So am I."

She smiled and smoothed his robe wagging her tail. "You look very handsome, Master. You clean up nicely." She took his hand. "Come let us relax for a bit."

Walt nodded and followed. "I bathed myself in the river and followed a purification ritual." He smiled. She had set up a place for them to sit. She indicated a spot and they sat. "Seemed only appropriate to clean my offering to a Goddess."

She laughed. "Such a thoughtful young man. And was that after you bathed Tsuyu after getting dirty?" She gave him a knowingly teasing look.

Walt blushed a little. "After of course. Not mad?"

She shook her head. "My domain is happy homes and that's what you've entrusted to me. Any joy you bring to this home and those within it is cause for celebration... and you have worked very, very hard and unselfishly with a kind heart to do just that for everyone. How could I not approve? It makes me very happy to be a part of it! You deserve a reward for it."

Walt smiled and took her hand. "And your happiness and the others is my reward. I want that for all of you. That is my wish. To please you. I hope that it does."

She blushes happily wagging her tail again. "Such a good boy! And yet so naughty to tempt a fox spirit so! You're almost too much of a charmer for your good. It's not wise to toy with the hearts of old ladies, you know?"

Walt smiled and put her hand over his heart. "I'll remember that for when I find one. Like I said before, you'll always be young and beautiful to me, Senko. Like a young bride."

She felt his heartbeating under her hand. "Such a flirtatious flatter!" She chided but her tail wagged even more. "So much life force... and so many blessings already... are you sure that's not what you want?"

Walt nodded. "I'm sure. Having you in my life is more blessing than I could dream of... so it's only right that I offer it to you. I only hope that you'll accept it. Unworthy as it is."

Senko had happy tears in her eyes. "I will. You understand what that makes us?"

Walt nodded. "Our world has funny customs and other nonsensical things like we saw on Sunday. But I don't necessarily hold to those customs dearly. All that matters is between a man and woman. If you can accept Penny and the others then yes. I accept to joining with you as well."

Senko beamed. "I accept your proposal. Shall we begin then?"

Walt nodded and offered her his hand. She took it and they approached the shrine together. There's a breeze that picks up and a cloud of blossoms as they approached. Senko is wearing a beautiful Shiromuku kimono. Two figures are standing by the two fox statues that flank the shrine.

Walt smiles as they approach the shrine. "I want you to know, Senko... I fell for you the moment we met. My fondness and love continues to grow to this day with every moment we share."

Senko also smiled. "And I want you to know that it was the same for me. From that first moment when you comforted me with your touch to this one... my love for you has only grown impossibly deeper and without end with every moment we share."

They stop before the shrine and bow. "Thank you for attending, Yozora and Shiro," Walt says followed by Senko, "Yes. Thank you, Sora and Shiro. I wish to present Walter "Stalking Wolf" Stark to the Kami."

The voluptuous plum color haired fox spirit Yozora, or Sora, smiled and lowers her long stemmed pipe. "Greetings, Senko and we acknowledge the presentation of Walter Stark. It is our privilege to stand witness as the Kami's representatives and divine messengers."

"Are you sure about this, Sen?" The white haired, slightly younger then Senko looking fox spirit, Shiro, said. "He's a nasty sort of man with all kinds of unsavory energies and ties to-"

"Shiro," Senko said her name politely but there was a firmness that she seldomn used that brings the other divine fox up short. "I am certain. He wishes to present me with a wonderful offering and I have decided to accept it, treasure it, protect it and keep it as my own. In exchange I shall prsent him with my own gift in equal measure."

Sora smiled. "Good for you, Senko." She fixes Walter with an intense stare. "You understand the consequences? Don't make Senko regret this... or you will."

Walt simply smiles and bows. "I do. I intend to never to let her regret and shall work hard to see that it is so. Thank you for your counsel and concern. It is much appreciated."

Sora smiles. "Oh, well said! Congratulations Senko. You've found a rather good one I believe." She produced a sake cup and jar.

Senko smiled and bowed. "Thank you, senpai. I've become rather fond of him. He's a wonderful man."

Shiro however pouted. "But Sen he-"

Senko smiled at Shiro but her tone was dark though her words weren't. "Now Shiro... not another word disparaging my Walter. Understand?"

Shiro swallowed and quickly but reluctantly nodded. "I understand... and I'm sorry, Sen. I didn't mean to upset you."

Sora laughed and said, "I don't think Senko is the one you owe an apology to, do you?"

Shiro's ears droop but she knows it'll make Senko happy. "I'm sorry, Walter."

Walt smiled. "It's fine, Shiro. Infact it would make me happy if you both weren't as formal and called me, Walt if you liked."

Shiro seeing Senko smiling warmly now quickly nodded. "Alright, Walt!"

Sora filled the sake cup and presented it to them. Taking sips they both drank half. They repeated it three times.

Then Walt smiled. "I offer you a piece of my heart."

Senko smiled and said, "I gratefully accept." Then he kissed her.

---

"Are you comfortable?"

Walt sniled with his head in Senko's lap. Her tail was wrapped around him. "Very... and so warm." He blinked. For a moment there it looked like she had nine tails.

Senko nodded and kissed his forehead. "Yes, you can see them. You'll be able to see me or through my illusions at times if you wish... as you should be able too. It's only right."

Walt smiled and touched her face. "But only if I wish too? Truthfully I don't mind your deceptions, my dear."

Senko nodded and smiled. "A wife shouldn't deceive her husband... unless he wants it. I have nine tails but it's easier to just manifest the one when interacting with this world. Just like you seal and limit your power."

Walt nodded. "And I assume you can see through all of mine now?"

Senko nodded. "I'm still getting used to all the power you just gave to me... and it'll take you awhile to get used to my exchange as well."

Walt gently stroked her tail(s). They were gloriously fluffy and soft... and filled with power. "True... this will take a bit of getting used too..." he held up one hand and a tiny wisp of foxfire appeared in his palm. "... Apologies if I get it a bit wrong at times."

Senko shook her head stroking his hair. "You're already doing amazingly... it's obvious how much training you've had. You already had so much power. It's coming naturally to you. Why in a couple of hundred years you'll be even more magnificently splendid."

Walt chuckled and then paused. "Will I... grow a tail?"

Senko laughed. "You already had one!" She pointed.

Walt blinked. Sure enough laying there with Senko's many tails was a wispy tail of white spiritual energy that was different from Senko's. It moved and he "felt" it. "So I do... that's not a fox tail though... since when?"

Senko reached out and gently touched it. Her fingers "felt" nice. "You've always had the potential and far too much power so your first grew quickly if only in spirit. Not sure if you'll grow more or not but having one shouldn't be surprising. It's in your name. It's in all the things you do. It's who you are. Who you've always been apparently."

Walt chuckled. "I see... I'm changing." He sighed. "A spirit tail. Another thing to learn to control and surpress, I suppose."

Senko nodded. "You've been trying not to change for so long... but you know that's not how anything works. All things grow and change... or they do the opposite. All the power that you've accumulated... you cannot stay "the same" forever. It's unnatural. Even the two "immortals" you picked up are good examples of that. They're both changed and are still changing and you see it."

Walt smiled and stroked her cheek. "You're so wise, my dear. I love you. I told someone not too long ago that one of my fears is no longer being "human"... but you're right. Everything changes someday... I suppose after I die... in a thousand years that'll be fine."

"I wouldn't be surprised if you grew a bit quicker than that but who can say what the future holds..." Senko leaned in and kissed him.

Her soft lips and mouth still tasted of sake. When they stopped he looked around. "Sora and Shiro went home?"

She nodded. "After the ceremony was over. Technically they weren't here at all. We were "there", more than they were "here"... and technically they're not far. It is a fox shrine after all... but everyone is trying to give us our privacy. How much do you remember?"

Walt chuckled and sat up slowly. "Everything through the ceremony right up to the offering. After that's a bit of a blur... which is to be expected and I don't mind, they're your family and that makes them mine and welcome here. Just as long as they don't get caught. People get funny about that stuff."

Senko nodded. "They know better... sorry about Shiro. She's... a bit of a handful."

Walt laughed. "I expect they both are! What fox spirit wouldn't be?"

Senko raised her eyebrow smiling. "True... and you still consented to tie yourself to one?"

Walt shook his head. "No... I already was. Can't fight love... and I like some trouble. Trouble isn't always bad. You're one of my favorite kinds."

Senko wagged her tail(s) happily. "Flatterer. You're far to good at that-"

"Young man?" He asked carressing her cheek.

She shook her head gazing into his eyes. "My husband."

Walt leaned in. "My wife." He kissed her. "Don't leave me?"

Senko was surprised and wiped away a tear from his eye. "I'm not going anywhere," she reassured him and then hugged him reassuring his worst fear. "None of us are... come let us eat, my love!"

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Nora Valkyrie Yang Xiao Long Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Zwei Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Rachel "Raven" Roth Manami "La Brava" Aiba Tsuyu "Froppy" Asui Haruhime Sanjouno Anastasia "The Baroness" Cisarovna/DeCobray Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress Serana Mission Vao Curie Ada PAM KL-E-O Merida Gwen "Gwenom" Stacy Jubilation "Jubilee" Lee and Jennifer "She-Hulk" Walters

Will Return In

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Coming Soon]