3

Onari spent the rest of his isolation learning how to move in sync with his internal Qi. He noticed that his Qi flickered and crackled and sparked like his mother's Fox-fire as he moved and cycled it. He suspected that his internal Qi was influenced by his Spirit Beast heritage.

Eventually, he was fetched by one of his mother's subordinates, "Young Master Onari. Your mother has safely given birth to a healthy baby girl. I imagine you would like to see them now?"

The man who came to get me was an older Tengu -- a species of monkey-crow Spirit Beasts -- man named Satoru. Satoru was one of the only people in Yasaka's retinue who did not resent Onari. Peer pressure made it difficult to show kindness to the young master, but Satoru still found opportunities.

"Thank you, Satoru. I would like that very much. I believe I am more than finished being confined here," Onari said.

Satoru bowed, skillfully ignoring Onari's slight frustration with his treatment by the greater Youkai community. His poor treatment was unlikely to change. And if Satoru was being honest, it would probably be getting worse with the birth of the new young mistress.

Satoru turned and led Onari across the facility. As one of the only supernatural hospitals in the Shinto faction, the facility was appropriately massive. Every supernatural human or being in Kyoto and the surrounding area came here when they were sick or injured. Yasaka, as one of the leaders of the Shinto faction, obviously received top quality care.

Onari entered the room and was almost immediately awestruck by what he saw. Yasaka had the same tangible glow that she had had on the day of his birth. The image of his beautiful mother with a little bundle of life in her arms was enough to make Onari's heart skip a beat.

Yasaka looked up as he slowly approached. Her eyes crinkled in a beaming smile. She beckoned him closer. Onari looked down at the newest addition to his new family.

She was adorable. Onari had had the pleasure of seeing his newborn brother in his previous life. That experience, while happy, made him realize just how ugly babies actually were when they were first born.

He couldn't bring himself to say the same about his new little sister. She was angelic. Her eyes were closed, but her tiny fox ears still twitched atop her head. Her expression was peaceful, making Onari remember just how good it felt to be held in his mother's arms right after he had been born.

Onari was relieved to see that she had the tails that he was missing. She wouldn't have to go through the discrimination and disdain that he did. He reached out to lightly stroke her ears, and she pushed back into his touch.

"She's… perfect," Onari whispered.

"She is, isn't she? Onari, I'd like you to meet Kunou. She's your little sister now, so please take care of her," Yasaka replied.

Onari didn't quite know how to respond to that. Of course he would take care of her! She was his blood. It was never even in question for him. He had already failed his last younger brother, most likely causing him irreparable pain and trauma with Onari's death. He would not fail again!