Heart of the Kitsune

 

Heart of the Kitsune

 

Chapter 8

 

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Ace flew down to where Zeff was, perching on a branch before shifting back into a mortal form. "So what shit did that eggplant get himself into now?" Zeff questioned. "Nearly got himself sold off to some pompous rich bastard. Luffy and the others got themselves into a bit of trouble so I offered to help..." Ace started before bursting into ashes and was reformed a minute later.

 

"And?" Zeff continued.

 

"And...and...oh yeah! And after getting them out, I went to find that swordsman he's so infautuated with and he went to save him. But he's gonna be in for some more trouble soon enough." Ace finished as he looked to the elder fox. "I know. We can't help him after this point. We can warn him of what's to come but that's all we can do. He has to handle this problem on his own as a true kitsune." Zeff murmured. Ace nodded and sighed. "You know, I wonder why that boy is so infatuated with a human? Didn't he only play with them and then leave 'em high and dry later?"

 

Zeff shrugged as he leaned back against the tree. "He does of his own volition but this one that he's hunting for is different than them. He wants this one for a mate, a factor I've ignored for so long cause he never showed interest in the people he's been with before, lore creature or not. Seeing this is new but I'm gonna let him go through with it." he said and Ace blinked as he looked to Zeff. "Really?"

 

"Yeah. This is his life so this is his decision. Besides, he has to learn the rules eventually if he wants to survive on his own even after Lucci and Jyabura are taken care of."

 

"So, you're not gonna tell him anything at all, especially the fact that since he's going for a human, it will only lead to heartbreak in the end?" Ace questioned softly.

 

"Yes. I can't be there to teach him everything, especially when it comes to dealing with humans. We lore creatures were supposed to be a secret race, only offering help to travelers or villagers that truly need our services. Only if we choose to do we stay with them under the watch of our specific guardians whether it be the Beasts of the Four Directions or the lesser deities that watch over the smaller ones. Inari will keep watch over him but he has to learn these things on his own. I can't always be there to provide help when he's in a bind. At least not anymore." Zeff explained and Ace gave a nod.

 

"I can understand that a little. I mean I can't always be there to watch over Luffy but he knows better on what he should and shouldn't be doing."

 

"And yet you leave him to run terrorizing the villagers when he's hungry." Zeff spoke with a small chuckle and Ace pouted. "Hey, it's not my fault he's a bottomless pit." he mumbled. "And so says the one who's also a bottomless pit and gives Shanks a hard time when it comes to feeding you." Ace stuck his tongue out at the elder fox before crossing his arms. "So, where is the Kyuubi anyway? None of the Four Directions heard anything from him and you'd think he'll want to hear about his son." he murmured.

 

Zeff shrugged. "Inari told me something about him. That he went out west to deal with some problems dealing with some thunder demi-god trying to get himself up in the ranks too far too fast and Byakko can't deal with the situation on his own."

 

"Ah, I see." Ace went silent as he looked up to the night sky. "Do you really think Sanji will get his potential mate?"

 

Zeff sighed, brushing a hand over his braided mustache. "I honestly don't know. He may succeed or may suffer heartbreak. Only when the matter with Jyabura and Lucci is resolved by his own hands will I go to him."

 

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Sanji panted as he rested a few yards from his selected destination temporarily. He knew he couldn't stay long, His fur bristled at the thought of what dangers were nearing. 'Damn, are they getting close to here already?' he wondered to himself before straightening himself out from the mess that he was after escaping that would be brothel of unwashed mortals that dare look upon them with filthy eyes, planning what they would've done to him if he was sold off to one of them. 'But I best keep my eye out for that mortal that nearly overwhelmed all those fools. I know for a treat like me, he won't ignore the fact that Zoro rescued me.'

 

After stretching out his wobbling limbs, he trotted off, looking both ways and kept his ears alert for any other sounds of anyone that wasn't a wanted guest. Hearing nothing but the chatter of the forest animals around him, he bolted off towards his only safe haven. When he reached Zoro's home, he slipped in through an available window and shut it behind him, locking it afterward before shifting back. "Damn it. Now I got some lame human after me along with those two bastards. What am I gonna do?" he murmured as he headed into the bathroom where he once spotted a med kit and patch up the tiny wound that would heal up within a day before moving into Zoro's room and curled up on the other male's bed, waiting for his return. He started drifting off after a while but the sound of a door opening and closing alerted him to the other's presence.

 

He stood and stretched as he looked to the door that Zoro just stepped through. "Thank you." he murmured.

 

"Hn, why didn't you escape yourself, shitty fox?"

 

"Because...just because!" he growled.

 

"Pathetic. You're a kitsune. You could've escaped at any time. What made this time different, I don't know." Zoro mumbled as he set his katanas off to the side as he went to get something light to wear. Sanji pouted then frowned, looking down to the ground. "If you only knew that you're my only weakness, you wouldn't be saying that..." he whispered softly before changing forms once more, curling up on the bed with his tails covering over his face. When Zoro entered back into the room, he saw the fox was asleep and still tried to contemplate the reason why the fox was captured so easily. 'There has to be a good reason...but whatever. Not like I care. I'm just giving him refuge until he gets his matters settled and then he's gone.' he thought as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

 

But curiosity turned him back to look down to the fox. He reached out and gently touched the other's head, eliciting a whimper from the lore creature. He sighed as he started to fondly stroke the fox's head.

 

"You're more trouble than its worth but since you're here, I guess I'll do what I can to help you." he murmured before moving his hand back and went to get in a little nap of his own.