Chapter IV: Vastaya 1/2

Tenko sat silently for a while, Staring off into the forest with no particular sight picture in mind. Kazumi took a long deep breath and exhaled with sadness as she watched Tenko. He was quiet. She wanted him to get angry, to cry, scream. But he was just quiet.

After a while of silence, Tenko trained. Though his mother was dead. Tenko had a father he wanted to meet. And the reunion required strength he had yet to wield—that night after a long soak in the Star Duo lake. Tenko returned to find a book on the Advanced Mishima Style and the book on the Ansatsuken Set left by Akuma.

But Most importantly, he found uncle Tang Hao. The man had been waiting since he smacked Tenko into the ground.

"Kid, are you finished with your little tantrum. Even if you're not, it's time to work. Tang San will be working hard, and if you don't do the same, you won't be able to see him or your father who has become his master." Tang Hao explained.

His words startled Tenko a bit. The coincidence that Tang San would become his father's disciple.

Not wanting to be left behind. Tenko dived headfirst into his training, and Tang Hao showed him no mercy. Day and night, he trained. He was a man on a mission without a single distraction in life. Days went by with great progress, but unfortunately, some concepts were easier to grasp than others. Tang Hao could teach many things, but a foreign world's techniques could not be taught by him, only supported and tempered.

"K-Kazumi…" he said after his second daily feeding.

"Hmm," she replied

Tenko straightened his back, " I need help… The Ansatsuken set is foreign to me, and the Advanced Mishima style is Advanced for a reason. I get most of it but not to the degree I want. Experience is needed."

Kazumi put on a half-smile "Sure. If you start to eat dinner with me again," she bargained.

Tenko glared " Fine," he answered, " But I want nothing but your best."

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Kazumi soon joins Tang Hao in a two-pronged training regime, grilling Tenko every single day. She gave it her all, and she had no plans of letting up. Time was her worst enemy. It wasn't until he turned 7 years old that he mastered the Mishima style and started the intermediate training in the Ansatsuken set. He still struggled with nature transformation, which stopped him from using many of the advanced Mishima techniques to the fullest. And most importantly, he lacked conditioning through battle. Kazumi beat him, but she never crossed the line that needed to incinerated if Tenko ever hoped to become the best.

But Thankfully, Tang Hao was there to do what needs to be done. Tang Hao made it a habit to pit Tenko against the demon beast. He watched from afar in case Tenko needed to be saved, but many times did Tenko faint from exhaustion, blood loss, or a crushing blow to the head.

Tenko was now seven years old, and his spirit power had reached a solid twenty. It was time for him to collect two spirit rings as he never received his first. Tang Hao, Kazumi, and Tenko were all having breakfast. When Kazumi spoke about a topic that needed to be addressed before the trio went out hunting.

"Tenko-Kun!"

"Hai!"

"I know you want to strengthen the runt. But, for now, you must keep him a secret. So today, we hunt for your first two-spirit rings to add to your Great Prayer Beads." Kazumi pulled out a Spirit bestiary written by Yu Xiaogang and dropped it at Tenko's feet.

"You know the requirement for a suitable ring. Now read and find a beast that best suits your fighting style. Not just the Mishima style but the Ansatsuken set as well. You also have to take into account the type of fighting the Runt will lean towards. The Prayer beads are your chance to link them together into one deadly art. But I advise you to billed one spirit at a time. " Tang Hao explained after he put his empty mug on the stone tabletop.

'He's right, Kit. But the Kitsunes have always been elementals. We can be long-range and act as control systems or be close quarters and act as attack systems. We are also fast and agile. Your Second Spirit is auxiliary for sure, but I'm not sure how. And you, you are a fighter in your own right, and that allows you to use me to the fullest and adapt to the changing tides of battle, making you the perfect host. Focus elemental power on me and have the beads pick up the slack. You tie us together. We compliment you.' Said the little Runt.

After Tenko meeting the Juubi a year ago in his mindscape, Tenko couldn't remember the events that took place. The Juubi took that as a sign and disguised himself to match the appearance of his younger self, The Little Runt.

'Hehe, thanks, Little Runt.'

Tenko spent an hour looking through the bestiary. And made a list of 10 possible spirit beasts to hunt.

"Kazumi-Chan! Uncle Tang! I've decided I want speed and illusions."

"I can see how that will work with your fighting style," said Tang Hao.

Kazumi hummed in agreement. "What did you have in mind?" she asked.

"Hmm, You'll have to wait and see" Tenko smirked and vanished with sheer speed.

It wasn't much work for Tenko as his combat prowess was now equal to a Spirit Grandmaster with just his ki alone. But even then, He could not outrun Kazumi or Tang Hao. Together they watched Tenko from the tress as he hunted.

After three hours of searching, he killed his first spirit beast, aged at 1,005 years old, and then his next was 1,010 years old.

By nightfall when he returned. He was beaming with excitement.

"What did you get?" Kazumi asked as if she did not know.

Tenko showed off a toothy grin. " First, I wanted to say thank you. If it wasn't for your training and the things you do to strengthen my body and internal energy. I wouldn't have tried anything so reckless" He then struck a fighting stance and shouted, "Haah!"

His spirit power erupted, and his Great Prayer Beads appeared first with a purple ring. The next to appear was the Little Runt, and a purple ring appeared around him.

"1,005-year-old Red-Tailed falcon for the great spirit beads. I gained speed and stamina enhancements. Two abilities, one ring like we thought. The next is a 1010-year-old Dream Fox. I can create tangible illusions."

"And what about your second rings?" asked Tang Hao.

"You mean ring? I got a ring for the runt to use the illusion ability to compliment the Ansatsuken set. But I don't plan to put any more ring on him until I reach Title Douluo. It's what Yu Xiaogang suggests in one of his books about twin spirits. But you knew that, didn't you?"

Tang Hao smirked at the bright kid. "Xiao San also has Twin Spirits. So I decided to do some light reading. Now, what of the second ring?"

"1,300-year-old unicorn armored beast" Tenko wore a big smile and thanked the heavens for all his blessings. He was getting stronger.

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It has been four years now. Tenko is now eleven years old. But the demon lineage worked in odd ways….

Tang Hao was still around with his vicious training, but he began to leave for various periods of time. He said he had to prepare. Tenko never asked too much about his little vacations.

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Kasumi said that I have grown.

Taller, stronger, handsome. I haven't been around kids my own age since the Holy Spirit Village. That was five years ago. But I'm now five feet and five inches tall built like a warrior of the ages. I've finally mastered the Ki transformation and can perform the Mishima advanced techniques. The Ansatsuken Set has finally reached its advanced stage, cultivation of the Satsu no Hado.

Ki techniques came easy with my skill set. But I find myself drawn to battle and more comfortable drenched in the blood of spirit beast than in my own skin. I've recently gotten closer to achieving the gift of the sage ki so that I can unlock the Raigō: Senjusatsu in the core of the Prayer Beads Uncle Akuma left behind. It takes extreme discipline and constant refinement of Ki. I'm close, but I still feel so far away. However, the closer I get to the core, the more the Satsu No Hado is pushed back. Sometimes I wish Akuma was here to explain what was happening.

After I acquired my second Spirit ring for my prayer beads four years ago, a 1300-year-old unicorn Armored beast, it gave me strength and endurance enhancements. I've been training them ever since, either by enhancing my self, Kazumi, or Uncle Tang. Each bead adds ten percent to the enhancements, which means for every bead that gains an ability grows in strength. Right now, every bead enhances a person's attribute by forty percent.

Anyhow, I've been ready for the past three years to get my 3rd spirit ring. Though, Uncle Tang was all about sealing my spirit power and building a strong foundation. Awakening an initial spirit strength of 15 and the constant Ki and physical training I do, caused my spirit power to rise too fast. A week after I reached level 29, Uncle Tang sealed it away. Anyway, Kazumi says that I've grown, and I can't help but agree with this.

Speaking of Kazumi-chan. Things have changed. She still hasn't aged. But her hair is nearly all white, and her eyes crimson red. She now has red tattoos that cover her body and pale skin. She says it's her demon form. And that she's trapped in the form until the very end. I hurt and rejoice at the thought. I love and hate her at the same time. She took my mother, but she has saved my life, raised me, and helped me become strong. Now she gives me her very essence at the cost of her life. I've grown… In every way, I have grown.

When I turned nine, I reached early sexual maturity. From that point on, Kazumi has been teaching me other skills. Skills that she says most men never master. But to be the best, I trained hard at that as well. Now I take my daily feeding in different ways and many times a day. I've got rough in play and left her sore and tired. But for some reason, she always smiles brighter afterward. It's odd. But, I often look forward to it.

Like many mornings nowadays. I step out of our cottage, wearing a black Gi with torn-off sleeves. The top was hung open, and my feet were bare. Around my neck was my Great Spirit Beads. Last year, Kazumi had gone to town and found wood from a 10,000-year-old Eternal Banyan Tree. It was nothing too special. But it was high enough in quality to bind with my Great Spirit Beads. Afterward, Uncle Tang taught me a hammer technique to become a blacksmith and better enhance the quality of Great Spirit Beads.

In my right hand was a book on immortal herbs and their uses. I thought I might be able to use one for my 3rd spirit ring. But I want something that can regenerate and boost spirit power like a rage ability.

"Tenko! Hurry now. You have 30,000 strikes with the hammer today. When you are finished, we will spar. You demonstrate every form, movement technique, attack, and defense of the Mishima style and Ansatsuken set. If you use any Ki, you will be penalized. 60,000 hammer strikes and another week under the seal.' Tang Hao explained the rules of the day.

I gave a serious nod and got to work. Two hours later. Tang Hao and I spared. Of course, I had no hope of winning, but my goal was to surprise Uncle Tang. After practicing for so long, the two styles had melded together into one art. And it had become extremely difficult to surprise Uncle Tang as he watched and aided in my growth.

However, I did manage to impress him as I perform a faint and traction into a move called Misogi, the followed up with the Tenma Shurettou. It wasn't awe-inspiring without the use of Ki, but my strength and speed were enough to make it deadly for anyone weaker than I.

It was sunset. Uncle Tang and I were drinking a good wine together when Uncle Tang tossed me a pendant with a metallic luster and deep blue character the said, Bai.

"I got that from my mother's brother when I left the clan with my Ah Yin. If you run into trouble, tell him your master sent you. I also left something for you with your mother. She'll give it to you when you're ready."

I chuckled a bit, "It almost sounds like your saying goodbye."

"You and Xiao San are both getting older and stronger. Eventually, My troubles and those of Xiaogang will come to haunt both of you. I need to put all my effort into my next move. Use what I taught you, and live free."

"So, you're not coming back." I sighed.

I then put on a good smile and continued drink to well beyond drunk with Uncle Tang. I had no idea when I would see him again. But I was grateful that he decided to stick around for so long.

The next morning, I was awakened by a surge of spiritual power that erupted from my body. When it finally mellowed out, I found myself alone with a much denser spiritual energy than I had three years ago.

With my spirit power free once again, I travel deep into Star Dou Forest, searching for an Immortal herb that could be of use to me. Now that I practice the Satsu no Hado, it's gotten easier to keep the beast away from me, but the devil in me keeps the weaker beast far away. The problem was an older beast that greatly surpassed my level as I took a stroll along the path that had walked for years. I stayed focused and ready to act.

Suddenly I felt a massive surge of what felt like ki. It felt similar but a thousand times purer than what was in my body.

'Kit! Leave it alone...' said Little Runt.

But how could I? I had spent years in this forest, training, killing, fucking, and living. It is my home. And for the first time, I've felt something foreign.

"Runt, I promise I won't fight. I just want to take a look," I replied as I leaped to a tree breach and traveled in the direction of the foreign power.

It was deep, deeper than I had ever gone before. I could feel the dangerous beast that dwelled in the region. But I was so close, and I refused to turn back. But the blood lust stabbed into my bones like an arctic chill. The beast was angry, but the blood lust was so thick I couldn't find the target of the searing aggression.

The smell of blood assaulted my nose. The sounds of battle could be heard in the distance. I gradually slow to a stop as I hide in a tree and watch as a beautiful nine-tailed fox girl fight spirit hall masters. The girl was completely vicious and used absurd charm abilities and a spirit orb that seems to steal pure life energy from her enemies. Between the two skills, she fought like a demon. The Pit demon could barely hang on. The fight was completely one-sided.

'Kit, behind her.'

"Hmm," I grunted and quietly pushed off the tree after taking one last look at the deadly vixen that looked no older than myself. Though, I probably look about fourteen. I quickly weaved through the trees and stopped close to what I think the vixen is protecting.

'60,000-year-old Pit Demon Spider and her nest,' Said the Runt.

"Aye. The Spirit masters must want her.' he said

'You should help her, Kit. The spirit hall is your enemy, right. While they're distracted, you can use the Ansatsuken set. Isn't it made for assassinations?'

"It is. But what if she tries to kill me when it's over.'

'Oh, please. I know you can feel it too. She's rank 27 at best. If it weren't for that charm and weird life-stealing ability, she would be long dead. But no matter how much life she steals. The skill still drains energy. And she is on the losing end.'

Tenko looked up from the spirit beast and tilted his head. His eyes turned crimson, and he faded into black smoke. Within Tenko's mindscape, Little Runt looked at the Kitsune with a toothy grin as he chuckled. 'This is what happens when you domesticate a fox.' he spoke to himself.

"Ashura Senku," a soft voice danced on the wind.

Slash! Slash! Snap! Three bodies dropped, and the Kitsune woman glared as she looked around in search of the killer behind the black smoke.

"You know it was stupid to pick a fight with a group of Spirit Ancestors and a Spirit King," Tenko spoke from hiding.

The girl growled, "That's why I killed the king first."

"But you were still going to die."

"I had it under control. Show your face!" she shouted.

"Tsk Tsk, temperamental. How do you know about Ki?"

"I don't know what this 'Ki' is you speak of. But if you want to kill me, stop fucking around and let's get to it!" She shouted.

Now the spirit masters were dead. The blood lust from the spirit beast had begun to recede, and the little Runt within Tenko watched intently.

"As you wish," the voice in the girl's ear forced her to leap forward and spin around on guard. Tenko chuckled as he watched.

Snif. Sniff. "What are you?" He asked " You don't smell entirely like a fox, but your not a human eith--"

Tenko was cut off when a strong charm attack hit him. He blinks once and vanishes into a cloud of smoke. The girl delivers her strike but hits nothing. She looked around in shock and found Tenko staring oddly at her.

"I don't think...that works on me." Tenko oddly put his hand to his head. 'What the hell was that? Did you feel it, Runt?'

The Little Runt sat quietly and didn't reply.

"That's impossible!" The girl charged again at great speed, but Tenko decided to indulged the spitfire vixen. They exchanged blows, and Tenko kept pace. The girl became furious as Tenko toyed with her. She was strong, but Tenko had strength and skill. Speed wasn't even worth discussing.

"Huh?" Tenko frowned, as a blue flame engulfed his arm on contact. He lept back, and his eyes turned to fox slits. Tenko gave one hard swing, and the blue flames rolled to his hand and shot towards a tree.

The girl's eyes went wide, and her mouth hung open, "You!" she gasped. "You shouldn't exist."

Tenko frowned, and the girl sniffed the air. "I think I'm going to go," he said,

The vixen launched forward to grab him but only caught smoke. She clenched her teeth, and tears rolled from her eyes. Emotional foxes were the worst. In her emotional state, the vixen discovered the flaw in the Ashura Senku.

"I can smell you, Akio," she sang.

Tenko shivered. He had appeared a few metes always as the Ashura Senko was only a short distance spatial movement skill. It was well in the range of people with enhanced senses, specifically, smell.

The Fox girl gave chase, and Tenko fled. 'Akio,' he said to himself with a sense of familiarity.

'Kit, stop running from the girl!'

'What the hell are you talking about, Runt?'

' Stop! Running! She can't harm you, and if she keeps using her spirit power to keep pace with you, she's going to kill herself! NOW STOP!'

Tenko's mindscape rattles as a big growl was projected by the Little Runt. Tenko came to an abrupt stop. 'H-how did you?'

'Because you are goddamn Kit, Cub, Pup, child who doesn't even know who he is! My job is to guide you, not control you. So stop making my life hard!'

Tenko stood frozen and strong hands ceased his shoulder. Claw-like nails dug into him and drew blood. He could feel the girl's nose pressed against the nape of his neck, trailing up into his hair and back down around his neck. She licked his neck, and her movements became less frantic and more controlled. She began to take her time. Her grasp even eased up.

'What is this?' he thought.

'Just don't move, Kit. she won't hurt you. This is what Vastaya Kitsune do'

'Vastaya Kitsune?'

Tenko suddenly inhaled when the girl pulled her claws from his shoulder. She glided around his body and kept the distance nonexistent. Standing in front of Tenko, she licked her fingers clean of her blood. Tenko took a good look at her and had to admit she was more beautiful than he originally thought.

The girl had long flowing black hair that fell well below her plump ass. Her eyes shined with a vibrant but murderous yellow gold and full soft pink lips that glistened under the rays of the sun that broke through the shroud of trees.

Upon her cheeks were six red whiskers marking, three on each cheek that looked to be painted on, but Tenko could see they were permanently and naturally apart of her. Her long sharp black nails, though covered in his blood, complimented her beautifully elegant jade hands. Behind her, nine long fluffy snow white tails swayed that matched the large fox ears upon her head.

Blood spilled from her lips, and she wore a euphoric expression, but her eyes spoke degrees of sadness accompanied by fresh tears. She licked her lips and gently bit down on her bottom lip, exposing her fox fangs, "Akio…"

"W-who is Akio?" Tenko asked

The girl tilted her head confused. "You are. Don't you remember?"

Tenko squinted, " My name is Tenko" he replied.

The vixen grinned manically. "Good," she said, "Another reason to fucking tear their hearts out!" her eyes became crazed, and then she moves closer to Tenko. The vixen pressed her forehead to his. She closed her eyes and sighed, "Did you lose your mother when you were young?" she asked softly and quietly

"Yes.." he replied

"They called her 'Han Mei'?"

Tenko's eyes widened, and he jumps back. The vixen sweetly smiled and said, "My aunt, Princess Meirong, named you, Akio. We talked all the time when you were in her belly. You were special. You were so strong that your mother was the first Vastaya in centuries to give birth to only one child. Hehe, you swallowed all nine of your siblings without hesitation. You were going to be great, and Meirong was going to return to the clan with honor."

Tenko's heart thrummed. "You're crazy."

"No, you can smell it. You know I'm telling the truth. It smells like fresh mint, right? Lies smell like cinnamon, and guilt smells bitter and pungent."

Tenko nodded.

"See, I told you. You're my cousin. Your mother was my favorite aunt. She looked after me for 1,000 years before she became human." said the vixen

"What do you mean before she became human?"

"Vastaya, aren't spirit beast. But we could take human form with fox characteristics, of course" she then waged her tailed and wiggled her ears, " with the help of a very ancient ritual. But our people learned that once we reach 10,000 years old. We can become human, like the spirit beast. However, no one has been successful in thousands of years until your mother. So the ritual was deemed forbidden locked away by the ancestors."

"But you have fox characteristics. And you have nine tails."

The vixen smiled and poked out her ample breast. "Because I'm special. Not only could I use the ritual, but my power was so great it manifested in the form of nine tails. Your mother was the same. Her Spirit grew many tails as she grew in power."

"But you have nine tails, and you're weaker than me" Tenko raised an eyebrow, and the vixen pursed her lips to pout.

"That's mean, Akio." she whined " I'm only an eleven-year-old human. If I did the ritual when I was a 10,000-year-old fox, I would be able to face Title Douluo. But, I had to avenge my aunt. I was only 1,020 years old when I found her house incinerated and did the ritual."

Tenko eyed her body and paid close attention to her curves. " Eleven? Maybe it's genetics after all.." he muttered. The vixen's brow contorted.

"Well, what's your name, Kin?"

"Ahri" She replied

"Pretty, Do you have a place to stay, Ahri?"

"N-no. I lived with the Pit Demon but she has a nest to take care of now."

"No problem. You can stay with me. Uncle Tang has left and we have space. But, you have to tell me more about my mother and the Vastaya Kitsune. And do exactly as I say"

"Vastaya Kitsune? No one calls us that anymore, not since the last ancestor from Inoia passed on. It's just Vastaya now." Ahri skipped over and held on to his arm. "Well come on, I can't wait to see your place."

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