The war had changed everything.
The once-sleepy villages had turned into fortresses, and the roads that once carried merchants and monks were now crowded with samurai and foot soldiers. The scent of blood and steel hung in the air, replacing the gentle aroma of rice fields and summer rain.
But in the mountains of Kyoto, where the warlords' reach was weaker, the creatures of old still thrived. And among them, a certain Tengu had found himself entangled in something far more dangerous than war—feelings.
---
The winds howled through the towering pines, carrying the crisp scent of autumn. Perched on a high branch, the Tengu adjusted his sleeves, frowning as he carefully balanced a small wooden tray in one hand.
Fried tofu, still steaming. Fresh eel, grilled to perfection.
A worthy offering. A perfect courtship gift.
And yet...
He exhaled sharply, his wings twitching with frustration. Why was he so nervous?! He was a proud Tengu! A powerful mountain spirit! He had outwitted monks, tricked samurai, and caused storms with the beat of his wings—why was presenting a plate of food making his stomach twist itself into knots?!
"This is ridiculous..." he muttered under his breath.
Still, he waited.
And sure enough, she came.
Like silver mist rolling through the forest, the Kitsune appeared at the base of the great cedar tree. Her long, flowing kimono swayed with each graceful step, the red of her sleeves like autumn leaves caught in the breeze. Her nine tails flicked behind her, betraying the caution in her movements.
He straightened. Now was the time. He leapt from his branch, landing before her with a gust of wind. "Hah! You're late."
The Kitsune yawned dramatically, covering her mouth with a delicate hand. "You're early."
The Tengu grumbled. Not the reaction he wanted. But no matter. He cleared his throat and presented the tray with a flourish. "Here."
She blinked. Slowly, her golden eyes trailed over the tray, then back to him. Then to the tray again.
Then—
"HISSSSSS!"
She threw her sleeve over the lower half of her face and took a step back, tails bristling.
The Tengu recoiled. "Wh—what are you doing?!"
She jabbed a clawed finger at the food. "You poisoned it!"
"Wha—?! You—?! Why would I poison it?!"
"You're never this generous!" she accused, peeking at him from behind her sleeve like a suspicious temple cat. "You must have put something in it!"
The Tengu's eye twitched. This little— "IT'S FRIED TOFU. YOU LOVE FRIED TOFU."
"I do," she admitted, but her ears flattened in distrust. "But why would you bring me fried tofu?"
The Tengu felt an overwhelming urge to kick a tree. She didn't get it. She really didn't get it.
This was supposed to be romantic. This was supposed to be courtship. Did she have any idea how many vendors he had to sneak past to get this tofu?!
He inhaled deeply. Calm. He had to stay calm.
"Listen," he said through gritted teeth, "I got this from the best shop in Kyoto. It's not poisoned. It's a gift."
The Kitsune narrowed her eyes further. Her sleeve still covered half her face, her expression unreadable except for her suspicious squint. "...A gift?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
The Tengu stiffened. This was it. The moment of truth. He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and said with as much confidence as he could muster:
"Because I like you."
Silence.
The Kitsune blinked. Her tails twitched. Her ears slowly, very slowly, lifted.
Then, without warning, she turned on her heel and BOLTED.
The Tengu stood frozen. The tray of food in his hands trembled slightly.
He opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
"...What."
From the distance, a flurry of panicked words reached his ears.
"NOPE, NOPE, NOPE, NOPE—!"
He watched as the silver-haired trickster disappeared into the trees like a fleeing deer, her long sleeves flapping wildly as she ran for her life.
"...Did she just—did she just run away?!"
He stomped his foot in frustration, nearly dropping the tray. "WHAT KIND OF REACTION WAS THAT?!"
The echo of her retreating footsteps was his only answer.
The Tengu's eye twitched dangerously. Oh, it was ON now.
He grabbed a piece of tofu and chomped down on it aggressively. Fine. She wanted to run?
Let's see how fast she really was.
With a powerful flap of his wings, he took to the sky.
---
End of Chapter 2
(Next time: Will the Tengu get his answers? Will the Kitsune stop running long enough to realize what just happened? And most importantly—stay tuned!)