Crow and Fox

"Here is your tea, master Gennarisai," - the tips of the claws knocked on the door, like staccato rattle of water drops, falling from the roof. Konnokami was carrying spring on the tray with floral aromas brewed in a cup. They had leaked through the cracks in the door on their own, and any attempt to explain further would be no more than interrupted breathing. "Come in, lord Konnokami," - Gennarisai's voice was oozing with courtesy, which was a little too sugary and pressed into square blocks. One could even write numbers on faces of such a cube and play dice with the Nine-tailed fox. The door opened by itself, as if it had recognised Konnokami's smell. The crooked grin of the copper knob remained the same, it only became a little cooler to the touch. Gennarisai's gaze, on the contrary, got warmer. He has always had a heart of gold, which was a heavy metal, but Gennarisai realised how much richer he had become, in fact, paying off his debt now. Konnokami slipped into the room, having held the door for Karamaru with his tail deftly. He put the tray on the table and met the eyes of a massive signet ring, which was made in the shape of the crow's head. Its large beak was covering the knuckle of Gennarisai's index finger. The steam instantly fogged up transparent jewels of incredibly lifelike eyes, when the withered hands had encircled the cup. Neither poison nor any other danger had made the signet ring red, so the lips touched the porcelain rim next. Gennarisai was too used to this ritual to think, whether it was necessary now. He took a sip slowly, and his relaxed face shed some wrinkles. However, he had the least risk of catching Konnokami's inner fire like a disease. The old crow's long life had made him immune to it. Konnokami noticed, that while Karamaru and he were away, Gennarisai put on a masterfully draped cloths over his grey wings, and that folds were hiding pictures of skulls on both sides. It seemed like parts of the skeletons were taken from the closet along with this ceremonial outfit. Karakara clan's pink winged emblem stood out on the white background Scarlet plates of light armour chained a long flowing fabric, like a river with ice. Those heraldic cloths, one for each wing, were also attached to the cuirass, as if they broke through the frozen stream of blood in a desperate desire for freedom. That amazing almost weightless material, which at the same time was extremely difficult to break, has always been one of Karakara clan's many secrets. Since the ancient times the crows have been making armour from the so-called solid light, which did not prevent them from flying on high speeds. Depending on a ninja's rank, the colour differed. All members of the current master's family had the right to wear red armour, the commanding officers were wearing green armour, and the grey armour was for everyone else. Gennarisai was drinking tea in silence, musingly and without any haste. Sitting in front of him, Konnokami even had time to examine some faded document on the table and two quills, made of white sharpened feathers, which were quite long, especially compared to the rolled scroll. Probably, they were long enough to have fallen out of Gennarisai's own wings the other day. But the inkpot was nowhere to be seen. Having followed Konnokami's gaze, Gennarisai touched the paper, which was curled up tightly like a sleepy animal, with his wing lightly. The scroll stretched itself, waking up. Like a yellow river it flew down the table, creating a rustling waterfall of written words. The history floated to the surface with its face down. The crimson hieroglyphs of foxes' and crows' names looked ancient, they smelled like lives of everyone in that list. Judging by the distinctive salty flavour in the air, Konnokami realised that they were not written in ink. With a careful sidelong glance, he looked at Karamaru, who was clearly trembling inside and looked like he wanted to snuggle up to someone, but there was no one near, except for Konnokami. And, probably, it has been like that for Karamaru for a long time, if not always. All the crows in the list had the same lonely fate. Konnokami did not know any of them, but he heard foxes' fairy-tales about lord Kasume, the first shogun, the founder of Edoropolis, who, according to the legend, raised most of the archipelago from the bottom of the sea, so every clan could have a place in the sun. They had been living in a fragile harmony until the most ungrateful Fox Hunt. Konnokami also knew the story of Arimura, the first female shogun, who made the awaken volcano dormant again, having covered the top of Mount Neko-Fuji with ice and snow forever. The next Nine-Tailed fox was Kojiro, the greatest healer, who had stopped the terrible plague with his magic powers and was also studying properties of miraculous plants, which have been saving lives to this day. One flower, which could cure a fever, if it is properly brewed in a potion, was called the "nine-tails" in his name and also because it had numerous bright orange shoots. Even dog clans were not able to gnaw this name out of foxes' speech habits, although the plant was renamed into "the orange dragon" in all herbalist books. In the list there was Yamato, who, according to the foxes' tales, prevented the enormous tsunami wave from washing all southern isles off the face of the planet. There was also Musashi, who in the year of drought and crop failure could grew gardens just by touching the ground. And there was Kosaburo, who tamed the terrible hurricane. This name was the last on the pages of forbidden fairy-tales, which were passed only by words in Kitsunezuka clan along with hope, which had been crushed, but not thrown away yet. Konnokami narrowed his eyes, as if he had moved one step closer to the answer, walking on the thin line, feeling this razor edge inside and outside. The molten metal spilled into the veins, freezing, taking a new unbreakable shape with red speckles of cracked fairy-tales. No. Konnokami exhaled softly. He raised his head, as if he was looking at these stone halls from without, from the sidelines and from above at the same time. There were this numb shelter in the heart of the mountain and Edoropolis, waking up in a cold sweat. There were vast untouched forests around Mount Tengu and all enormous islands, which had endured many disasters hundreds of years ago... Whatever was the next one, Konnokami knew, that his name would be the seventh in this list. "Konnokami Kitsunezuka," - Gennarisai said it aloud so confidently, as if he knew exactly how to perform this ritual, which had been forgotten as unnecessary in hundreds of years. He could not foresee the past, but pretended to be repeating the ancient crow masters' words, while actually Gennarisai was coming up with his own speech, born from the ashes, settled on his heavy brows, after all the chronicles had been burned. - "You have passed the tests of heart, mind and body. Karakara clan welcomes you, as the only Nine-tailed fox in this generation, and pledge loyalty to you from the first drop of your blood on this paper to the last drop of our blood". The ritual dagger was as thin as the base of a claw, clean, but clearly ancient. It looked tired, having forgotten what it was doing here and how it felt to live on the edge. Having taken a sip of a sparkling dawn in blood, the dagger, obviously, remembered its intoxicating youth and even the forge, where it had been made, although there was no time to savour the taste. A tiny wound on Konnokami's skin was filled with warm light, making Karamaru's eyes widen, when he threw a glance into it. Gennarisai, on the other hand, revealed no signs of amazement. Such a feeling was beneath him. But both of them have never seen a Nine-tailed fox's blood. It turned out, that it was almost red in colour, as anyone else's, but looked like it had absorbed the drowning sun, spilling rays of a living light. Every drop had a star inside it, falling and fading slowly. Gennarisai was making the same wish to every one of them, while Konnokami with a stone-cold facial expression was dipping the tip of the quill into the cut on the back of his forearm, bringing out the syllables of his long name on paper accurately. To tell the truth, he did not feel any magic in this ritual, only the wound was tingling, knowing, that writing hieroglyphs in red ink would have changed nothing to the worse. The blood was simply emphasising the importance of this moment and of the custom itself, which used to be so precious to all crows and foxes. Konnokami half-closed his eyes, and delicate calligraphy crawled up the inside of his eyelids, sorting out the strokes of the quill. It kept silent about everything he has not known yet, and it was no use to listen to his own pulse, knocking at the heart. It is open, come in... "Karamaru!" Karamaru shook his wings, having been clearly mesmerised by the shining blood, fading slowly, coagulating on the paper, which had been absorbing this miracle for the seventh time already. "Do you agree to become a sacrifice to the Nine-tailed fox in the name of Karakara clan to signify the ancient alliance between foxes and crows, and to share all the trials of his mission with your heart, mind and body, if he would have you?" That wording... it sent shivers along Konnokami's spine, and every hair on his tail was bristling with excitement. He had to swallow the absolute certainty, which filled his throat, being sure that this ceremonial phrase had sounded exactly like that all seven times, echoing in the blood of his kin on paper. It was not the same blood, that flowed through Konnokami's veins. As far as everyone knew, the Nine-tailed foxes have never had direct descendants, it was impossible, as if the nature itself did not want this power to be hereditary, instead of awakening in the world only in times of dire need. But all the same each Nine-tailed fox cherished this air, warmed by the breath, by the fluttering of the most beautiful bird's lowered eyelashes next to them, the dryness of the lips, the sharp taste of the unsaid words on the exhale... "Yes..." The dots scattered, but that was not the end of the line, only the beginning. Karamaru's face became as unreadable as Konnokami's face was, when the fox had been dipping the quill into his burning blood. And now Konnokami's wound suddenly healed itself with a convulsive breath, hiding the remaining embers. "Does the Nine-tailed fox agree to accept Karakara clan's sacrifice and give us his patronage?" Each unreal sound ran through the body, without touching it, as if these words had the thin legs of butterflies, which were cramped inside the stomach. And at the same time it was empty in the head, where the wings could freely raise the wind with the smells of summer and honey, blooming flowers in the eyes and the kisses of the sun on the skin. The sky on the feathers had the darkest colour, which could only mean, that the dawn was coming. "Yes!" - Konnokami breathed that out so eagerly, as if he had expected Gennarisai to change his mind completely or to offer him someone else as a sacrifice without the earring, without the favour and kindness in the eyes, without any hope for that interpretation of Gennarisai's words, which could give meaning to everything. Konnokami had not seen all the facets yet, he did not dare to look into those eyes for as long as he did into the wound, when Karamaru rolled up the sleeve of his kimono and made a cut on the back of his forearm in his turn. He took Gennarisai's second quill, which was clean as if the master had never forced anyone to shed blood for the clan before this day. And if the Nine-Tails had refused to be with him, would Karamaru's wings have been cut off? Karamaru was so sure of it, as if Gennarisai's voice was creaking in his thoughts, grinding them with heavy millstones and squeezing the juice onto the paper. Karakara clan did not need crows like Karamaru, they were exiled in disgrace if anyone learned the truth. But in ancient times, the clan would, probably, keep them... for the Nine-Tailed foxes. And all that remained was added to that honourable list. There were four syllables of his name, empty and uncertain. Karamaru pressed his wings against his shoulders, knowing that Gennarisai had never said anything like that. Fear spoke for him, the one who truly reigned in this room, was breathing through the wounds, making palms sweat. It came from within, had always lived there, growing like a fly-eating plant, spreading fleshy petals with the smell of rot. Gennarisai got to his feet and reach out his hands, slowly touching Karamaru's forehead and... emptiness. Konnokami pulled back warily and so quickly, that Gennarisai did not even notice his movement, only the air between them warmed up as a warning. Konnokami's nostrils flared slightly, catching the scent of each line on the withered, bony hand carefully. Gennarisai kept silent, did not try to convince the predator, that he did not want to harm him. Even if Gennarisai had wanted to, he could not. He had been just waiting patiently until, having made sure by its smell, that the spell was harmless, Konnokami pressed his forehead against Gennarisai's palm eagerly of his own will. As for Karamaru, he did not need the fox's keen senses to know, what was going to happen. It was not painful, but it was for life. Shadows from the list were wandering in front of his closed eyes. All of them had gone through this hundreds of years ago. "Relax," - Gennarisai's words sounded too soft to be an order, so they were obviously meant for Konnokami. No medium could touch the mind of a Nine-Tailed fox by force, even for the sake of weaving thin invisible threads leading to the mind of Karamaru. That could be done only with his full consent. The magical threads were at first fluid, like wax, then they hardened, became stronger and tougher, started vibrating, like strings, tasting their own sounds. There was too much salt in them, but at least they did not stuck like a lump in the throat. The tuning was subtle, like wrinkles around the eyes, which were briefly lost thanks to the healing tea, but found Gennarisai once again. Tasting the magical threads himself, Konnokami smiled lightly on the inside, where the sun could swim, not sink, in his veins, sending rays of light to run along the glowing strings. It was hard for them to balance over the chasm, but it was enough for the cut on Karamaru's arm to heal just as quickly, leaving smooth, tanned skin without a single grain of pain. The pain, however, could not just disappear. A short spasm passed over Konnokami's shoulders, and Gennarisai's fingers tightened around his head. "The life-lock is not meant for healing someone without physical contact, lord Konnokami. I am sure, Karamaru would have given you his hand" Now that sounded like an order. Karamaru's hand was no longer bleeding, but still he immediately reached it out to Konnokami, palm down. The fox's long gentle fingers became a support for it, not blaming Karamaru for anything, and the crow's talons clenched around them, as if trying to keep balance on a thin branch. "I think you have already understood, what I am about to do, lord Konnokami, despite this magic being practiced among bird clans only. We have not shared it with any creature of the land or sea, except for the seven foxes, counting you. I mean the Nine-Tailed foxes, of course. In all other cases only two or more crows are bound together in a life-lock. This is usually done to better coordinate the actions of elite ninja squads during battles. As your bodyguard, Karamaru will now be able to feel if you are injured or in danger and know where to find you. "And what about me?" - Konnokami asked for clarification, and Gennarisai rather felt with his palm, than saw the curve of the fox's raised eyebrow. - Will I be able to feel if he is injured or in danger? Having sunk into the dry weave of magical energies, Gennarisai’s palm pricked itself on the needle of this unexpected question, which had found his hand in a haystack. "Why..." "... am I asking, if I already know the answer?" - The smile at the corners of Konnokami's lips was just as sharp, piercing each finger, emphasising, explaining. Gennarisai grinned in response, and the light feathers of his moustache quavered with irony. "You will be able to feel it, lord Konnokami. You will be able. I do not even need to make a double knot. If you want, you can do it anyway. I am not the one to explain to you, how to redirect magical energy if there is a need to find out where he is and what happened to him. From now on Karamaru is your... bodyguard. The pause before this word, when Gennarisai released two consciousnesses from his fingers, which had become unhealthily red, seemed even too loud. It sounded like he was going to say "yours" and stop there. But, perhaps, he simply caught his out-of-tune breath before taking a sip of the healing tea from his half-full cup. That let Gennarisai bid farewell to the deepest wrinkles for the second time, although they promised to dawdle in the doorway until the next spell. The energy of Nine-Tailed foxes, dissolved in water, did not linger for long in someone else's blood, where the stars did not appear even at night. "By the way, what is new in Edoropolis?" - Gennarisai asked in a casual tone suddenly, examining the tea leaves stuck to the cup. The outline, which looked vaguely like the wing, might as well be interpreted as a blade taken from a scythe. It needed to be sharpened before the harvest. "Everything was fine, when I left," - The fox's ears perked up, and the twitching tip of his tail was looking for a double meaning in this question. In Gennarisai's case, it could have been even more than double meaning, actually. "And that is why you need to come back," - he advised, having looked up. There was still a reflection of tea in the colour of Gennarisai's eyes. Having lost the pitch darkness and depth, the narrowed pupils found answers without questions. - "It is important to find oneself in the right place at the right time, lord Konnokami, especially if you are still dreaming of becoming a shogun, like many of your predecessors before the Fox Hunt. I have told you about the place, and the time will not wait for too long" "So, once again I should "try not to spill the tea"," - Konnokami quoted sceptically, and a predatory, cunning caution left paw prints on his cheekbones. He could guess, that the time was not as easy not to spill as the tea. With a smooth, flowing movement, he got up off the floor without using his hands, still holding Karamaru's elegant palm in his fingers, and helped him to get to his feet as well. Konnokami didn't want to let go, but he respected the delicacy with which Karamaru's fingers slipped out of his hand like water. "If you will excuse me, I need to change into my armour, lord Konnokami. It will not take long" Holding the folds of his kimono, Karamaru slipped out the door like a shadow, leaving only the sound of his claws on the stone floor, and the piercing blue colour of his wings flashed around the corner. Knowing that it was already dark outside the shelter, Konnokami had no doubt, that it was the exact shade the sky had right now. And all the birds were born for the sky, even Gennarisai, who did not seem to consider offering the Nine-Tailed fox to have a rest from the journey. His eyes had the colour of burnt bone and were hiding the truth carefully, looking at something so far away, inaccessible even to a Nine-Tailed fox. And so, the blood froze in streaks on the whites of his eyes. Crows like Gennarisai were called mediums. They were the leaders of their clans and had many mystical abilities, including divination magic, which were as incomprehensible and inaccessible to Konnokami as his own powers were to others. To tell the truth, Konnokami himself would not want to know the future, because the inability to change it could draw anyone mad. And those who had gone mad already, could change anything. Could they not, master? "What can you tell me about the Nine-Tailed foxes of the past, master Gennarisai?" - waiting for Karamaru together in silence did not seem right to Konnokami, as if that silence was pressing on the lungs like a thick layer of water, and so the words burst and bubbled. Only the foam remained, and Gennarisai blew it off his moustache, reluctantly admitting: "I know everything, that had been preserved. In other words, not too much. Mostly these are legends and tales. But, without a doubt, every Nine-Tailed fox had always been accompanied by a crow. Each of them had a bodyguard from Karakara clan" Konnokami narrowed his eyes, wiggled his ear, as if he was trying to catch an echo of all the unspoken words, which were groaning in the gaps in logic, wounded and crippled. Konnokami could not see the bottom of that pit, but he could hear the rhythmic pounding from somewhere below already. "As far as I know, the bird clans has relatively recently allowed girls to undergo ninja training, and female crow ninjas are still rare. So..." - Konnokami checked the names, written on the unfolded bloodied scroll, quickly, - "... how Karasuma could had been lady Arimura's bodyguard more than two hundred years ago? And there was also Reika as lady Musashi's bodyguard" "They could have been trained especially for their missions as an exception," - having thrown a shroud of washed-out indifference over his answer, Gennarisai pretended, that this discussion was already dead. It was also sacrificed to omissions, if not outright lies. - "Karkara clan has always been flexible making decisions, if the situation required it" "Do you think, they were trained?" - Konnokami doubted, and his tail brushed against the hem of the cloak in a sharp instinctive movement. - "I also used to read legends and tales of many clans in hope of finding at least some hints about what had happened before the Fox Hunt, from various sources. The real truth is always somewhere in the middle, is it not? And during the ritual you have mentioned a sacrifice, master Gennarisai. Do you think, that dog clans' fairy-tales, in which virgins were given to monsters to appease them, also originated from those rituals?" If Inuyama clan had really wanted to erase all memories of the Nine-Tailed foxes, they should not have spilled their hatred onto the pages of books. Dogs spent centuries, regretting that there was no one left to hunt, squabbling among themselves, barking at cats, and essentially catching their own tails with their teeth. No one understood, why did it hurt others. Still, the falsehood took flight, but the truth came limping after it... "Karamaru is a virgin," - Gennarisai noted quietly and unrepentantly. It was amazing, how he managed to avoid answering by speaking directly and without evasive phrases, but still, the monster was definitely appeased by these words. The corner of Konnokami's mouth twitched upward to the glittering stars in his eyes, which it could not reach anyway. Trying to keep a stony expression on his face, he felt every crack on his lips, which also had never known the taste of the first kiss, let alone anything more. It was unusual and even a bit embarrassing, considering his age, to know only from books, where and how he could draw an infinity sign with his tongue. The reflection in the magical spring, which resembled a curtain, separating reality from dreams, has appeared in his memory once again. The vision, in which the fog over the water, like light feathers from the wings of flying clouds, was embracing Karamaru's hot shoulders, clinging to them like a smoke to fire. And it was warming Konnokami's heart, that Karamaru will have no one to compare him to, if one day the mirage becomes a reality... ... that hope was inexcusable in its naivety. Having bitten the very thought with his sharp fangs, Konnokami realised, that Gennarisai had not said everything yet. "This is his sacrifice in the name of our clan. These bodyguards devote themselves to serving the Nine-tailed foxes wholeheartedly. They are not allowed to have any other attachments. The Nine-tailed foxes always are in the first and only place, bodyguards should live for them and die for them without a second thought. So it is better when a crow, who becomes a sacrifice, does not have anyone close to begin with" Gennarisai's voice was flat and tasteless, like the stems of artificial flowers. The room chewed it up and choked, its coughing was like ringing in the ears. But Konnokami was not so sure about this theory, having asked reasonably: "And what about his relatives?" "They are not from Karakara," - Gennarisai curled his lips slightly, remembering the faces, dented by life and alcohol, with disdain. Even the rarest, most beautiful shade of blue in their unkempt feathers, which was the only thing Karamaru took after his parents, was barely visible under layers of neglect. - "They had given Karamaru to the clan as a hatchling, because they were unable to feed another baby. Karakara clan often takes in young crows, who had been left without parental care. We even pay their relatives handsomely for our future warriors. In Karamaru's case, his parents are, probably, still alive, but they love to drink too much to have any love left for their son" Gennarisai did not need any doubts. Having dropped out of his speech, the question mark became covered by tree bark, having the same shape as the curved staff, that struck the stone lightly. He made a point. Although that point was erased softly by the fox's tail, which was swinging like a pendulum. Gennarisai knew much more than this. He added: "Karakara clan had also preserved some information about the existence of priests, who used to worship the Nine-Tailed foxes, in ancient times. In cases of lady Arimura and lady Musashi, those were priestesses. As I understand it, one of them was chosen as the sacrifice each time. I am sorry, that I could offer you only one suitable option... "There is no reason to be sorry, master Gennarisai. I cannot even imagine anyone better than Karamaru," - Konnokami gently interrupted this empty apology, which was rattling, like a money box. Several copper coins of hypocrisy were stuck under Gennarisai's tongue. The old crow chuckled contentedly and lowered his eyelids for a moment. Thin and almost transparent, they did not prevent him from seeing through the walls, how the moon was rolling like a ball of yarn over the forest, the threads of long constellations tangled, the clusters of excitement ripened on both sides of the central entrance to the shelter. The way out was found by someone else. Despite the late hour, almost the entire clan was waiting in a respectful, quiet crowd, with a rare ripple of whispers running through it, as soft as the rustling of wings. Everyone, from the elders, who had more grey feathers than Gennarisai himself, to the young crows, who have just begun to learn how to fly, wanted to see the living legend. Children were clinging onto tree branches with their claws to get a better view, climbing higher, but no one approached the strict line of the elite squad. The Dark Four stood in the front row, although they had already seen a lot. As for the hapless patrol guard, he even had time to show all his acquaintances the fragments of his sword, which had been broken by the Nine-Tailed fox himself. Clearly, the guard had no intention of repairing such a relic. "Let's go, lord Konnokami" - Gennarisai said with satisfaction, having raised the curtain of his eyelids. The clan was waiting for the show to start. - "Everyone is waiting. I will make a speech. You need only to demonstrate your nine tails, fly a lap of honour together with Karamaru around the clearing and go to Edoropolis. I will contact you later." Having nodded, Konnokami headed for the door. He was too late to catch the scent of hasty summer, which stepped over the threshold, having almost tripped. But Konnokami caught Karamaru by his shoulders just in time, feeling the crow's tanned hands, which have already hidden the embarrassment under fingerless gloves, resting against the fabric of the cloak at the level of two heraldic foxes above the chest. "I am sorry, lord Konnokami," - Karamaru pulled away quickly, adjusting the clasps of his light armour. There were more shades of green in these perfectly fitted plates, than in the forests around Mount Tengu. Karamaru seemed to have some commanding officer rank after all, but his cuirass looked fresh as young leaves, without a single kiss of cold metal on it. Perhaps, it has just been given to Karamaru today to honour his new role as the Nine-Tailed fox's bodyguard, and the armour fit perfectly. It was fastened at the neck and under the wings with strong straps, and Karamaru's back was open for the freedom of flight, teasing an observer with the beautiful tanned skin. Konnokami wanted to tell Karamaru that he looked great, but Gennarisai's presence was oppressive, and the vocal cords froze to each other, realising that they would only open with blood. Letting words fly, when they were not alone, could be a grave mistake. It could cost Karamaru his wings. It could cost Konnokami his status and his chance to become shogun. Everyone had a lot to lose, if someone finds in the closet not even a skeleton, but just a heart. So Konnokami only said gently: "Your armour is great!" The fragile magical connection between them was still thin, but it got warmer. Karamaru lowered his lush eyelashes slowly, then looked up again suddenly, meeting Konnokami's eyes. He bowed his head a little, and the long earring in his ear swung, as if confirming that Karamaru had understood everything anyway. "Thank you, lord Konnokami" When they reached the doors of the shelter, even without having medium's powers Konnokami could sense, how many crows were watching the grass grow at Mount Tengu. It smelled of inflated expectations and assorted herbs, a little of copper, for their thoughts, obviously, of water and fire. Konnokami put his palm on the handle on one section of the door, pointing towards the other with a nod, so Karamaru and he could open the doors simultaneously, and everyone would cheer for both of them. Exultation spread through the crowd with the roar of a feathered sea, the flapping of wings and joyful voices. Karamaru was genuinely surprised to hear his name in these welcoming cries, but apparently only Gennarisai and the Dark Four knew the truth behind the supposedly honourable position of the Nine-Tailed fox's bodyguard. And then all the sounds faded away quickly, having been cut off by a flash of the midnight sun, a bright light, no one wanted to extinguish with one careless breath, while staring at it in amazement. It looked as if eight weightless fiery petals reached for the moon, bloomed behind Konnokami's back like a royal chrysanthemum at the level of his shoulder blades. Those flames intertwined, taking shape, shedding unnecessary glare, they grew, like burning trees, merging together. His wings were different from a bird's wings, being more similar to the wings of a butterfly. They were orange with branching red veins, resembling thin blood vessels, which were pilled from under the skin. But it actually was Konnokami's magical energy becoming brighter and denser in places, pulsating at the intersections before pulling those lines into a knot and then cutting it off with another shining flash, melting everything together. The world, that had been waiting for him for two hundred years, was already at his feet. You wanted to fly together, Karamaru. This silent invitation rolled down his raised eyebrow, fell onto the corner of the lips and felt like a simple pulsation of their magical bond. Konnokami still did not know how to play its strings with his mind, how to sculpt notes from thoughts, making them easy to understand. He knew, that he would learn. But in the meantime, Konnokami soared up into the air with strong flaps of his magical wings and, of course, he gave no sign of how difficult the flight could be for those, who were born to crawl. And the dog clan wanted them to crawl in their own blood. The quick flap of Karamaru's blue wings was much more elegant and effortless. They ripped through the darkness, like twin blades in the hands of a master, which could cut flying arrow in two. "Crows of Karakara clan! The Nine-Tailed fox is with us again!" - Gennarisai's booming voice and the dancing shadows remained on the stone steps below. How about the lap of honour? Karamaru also tried to address Konnokami mentally using the magical bond. It was more like a clot of emotions, than words, bun one could read everything on his flushed tanned face, and Konnokami nodded. He flew in the opposite direction in an arc, trying keep pace and meet Karamaru exactly in the middle of the ring, warmed by the breath of the crows, looking up at them. Karakara clan was happily bathing in the glitz and glitter of a premature celebration. Or were they celebrating too late? Far below Gennarisai kept talking about something. Resting his hands on the staff, he leaned on it with all his weight. The dead tree wanted to take root, but there was no place for it on the rocks, just like there was no place for emotions on aloof faces of the Dark Four members. The sculptured furrows between their eyebrows did not encourage fluid smiles to appear. Having already seen the Nine-Tailed fox in action before anyone else, they were watching Karamaru closely. The Dark Four had never thought much of him and were not going to change anything now, just as the stars did not change when someone touched their reflection in the water.