Coyote Tricks: The Bone Eaters Well

I have decided against using brackets for designating non-english discussions in this story. From this chapter on all converstations are in Japanese unless stated otherwise. Single quotes will still be used to designate unspoken thoughts.
This chapter is rated R for adult content and language. Please read all disclaimers and warnings in Chapter I if you have not already done so.

Chapter III: Tokyo

Yuki was a strange girl or so at least all the people at school told her. The word they used behind her back was creepy. Shen’t n’t mind though she may not have many friends but she knew she was special. She was special because she could see things the others could not. To the average person the couple waiting outside the customs exit would appear to be a normal looking boy and girl about 19 years of age. He had reddish brown hair and a muscular slim build. She had brown hair and petite frame. But Yuki could see the beautiful fox ears and tails they also sprouted. She smiled at them and waved when they looked her way. Toshiro and Koto waved back at her.
“Do you think she is a sensitive?” Koto whispered.
Toshiro looked at her again and wagged his tail. Yuki’s grin grew bigger.
“Yes” Toshiro whispered back “I think so”

As Shippo emerged from the customs exit, Toshiro waved at him.
“Father” he cried over the crowd.
“Toshiro!”
Shippo came over and threw his arms around him patting him on the back.
He then made a small bow to girl next to him.
“Koto-chan” he said. “It is good to see you again”
Koto looked surprised and bowed back. Shippo’s usual reaction to her being here would have been to basically ignore her.
Shippo turned and introduced his traveling companions as they all emerged.
“This is Master Spirit Singer, the expert on portals that I went to visit. He has come examine the well. And this is his apprentice and protégé, Kit Coyote. And this is Master Kaemon Taijiya of the Midoriko Shrine.”
Toshiro and Koto bowed to each in turn and shook their hands. Shippo then turned to introduce them.
“This is my son Toshiro. He is a Kendo master as well as managing my financial and clan matters for me.” Shippo said with some pride.
“And this is Koto, she works for the Dark Tournament Committee.” He continued with an expression of disapproval that changed when she replied.
“Not anymore” She said simply.

Kit watched this exchange as he looked over the couple. Toshiro’s resemblance to his fa was was plain though his hair was more reddish brown. Koto was short with light brown hair and blue eyes. Kit’s coyote sense of smell made it clear that under her human illusion she a K a Kitsune just like Shippo. He noticed though that Toshiro was a half breed just like him. The scent markers on them made it plain that the two of them had a sexual relationship too but neither had submitted to the other. That meant that their relationship was between equals with no long term commitment. The one thing that canine spirits had over human relashipships was that it was clear to everyone involved just what a relationship was between lovers. Just like Toshiro could almost certainly detect the scent marks of his sex with Melanie on the plane.

With that thought it suddenly occurred to Kit why Shippo had broken off with him and forced him to erase the scent markers of their relationship. He didn’t want Toshiro to know about it. Could it be that Toshiro would disapprove of the relationship? Or did it have something to do the clan Shippo had just mentioned? Kit knew now that Shippo was over 500 years old but it hadn’t occurred to him that he might be the head of some sort of pack or tribe. While it is not an issue with Western canine spirits perhaps in Japan having a male lover would impact his status with that clan. He remembered Lord Sesshomaru’s distasteful reaction to smelling Kit on Shippo but he thought that was the Dog Demon Lord’s dislike of humans and half-breeds in general. Could it have been something more? Kit suddenly figured he needed to learn as much as he could about customs in the Japanese spirit community.

Yuki sighed as they gathered their luggage and started out of the terminal. They were all so beautiful especially the sandy haired one. He was so cute. She watched him go wishing she had the courage to go talk to him.

The group went out to the large van Toshiro had rented for the trip to Shippo’s house. As they pulled outthe the airport Shippo asked about Koto’s earlier comment.
“So you are not working for the committee anymore?”
“No” she answered meekly “the tournament committee is all dead you see.”
“Really” Shippo said surprised.
“Before Koto goes on Father” Toshiro interrupted her “I must confess, she invited me to the tournament so I was there.”
“Damn it Toshiro, you know how I feel about that place.”
“Yes Father and I am sorry. I should have heeded your advice. We were nearly all killed! The entire arena and much of the island was destroyed in the final battle.”
“Well” Shippo said after a moment “I’m glad to see you made it out unharmed then.”
Toshiro and Koto looked surprised at this reaction but decided not toh thh their luck.
“Oh Father there was something else, Yoko was there.”
“Kurama? Are you sure?”
“Yes sir many demons in the audience recognized him too, calling him ‘King of Thieves’. But the unusual thing is he only appeared in the arena and then only briefly. They were battles where a red haired human teenager that also went by the name Kurama fought. During two of these fights there was some sort of energy cloud released and Yoko appeared in place of the human.”
“Is it possible this human was just a Kitsune illusion?” Shippo asked.
“No, I’m quite certain that he was human but he had the same power over plants that Yoko does.”
“Hmm” Shippo said. “I’ll have to seek out this red haired boy when I have the time.”
Kit wasn’t sure who Yoko was but was surprised to find himself feeling a twinge of jealousy over Shippo’s interest in him.

They arrived at Shippo’s home, a modern looking two story building that filled a block. The house had several guest rooms and Shippo showed them each to a room. The largest guest room he assigned to Spirit Singer. This room had a connected bath with Western styles fixtures and shower. He recommended that Singer and Kit make use of that bath since the main bathroom was in the traditional Japanese style. Once the luggage was put away everyone gathered in the main room for a late tea and to discuss plans. In the security of the house, everyone let down their respective illusions. Kit saw that Toshiro had human appeariegs egs unlike his father whose feet were like a fox. He and Koto also differed from Shippo in that they had fox ears atop their head just like Kit’s coyote ears. Shippo’s ears were more human in appearance although pointed. All four of the canines had tails.

It was decided that Kaemon would return to the temple archives first thing in the morning to do more research among Lord Miroku’s notes on the well. Singer announced his intention to sleep in the morning following a long day of travel.
“When you get to be my age you need your beauty sleep” he said smiling at the irony that lifespan wise he was the oldest in the room but age wise one of the youngest.
Thus the Singer, Shippo and Kit planned to go to the Sunset Shrine the next afternoon to examine the well.

The conversation then drifted to casual matters.
“I noticed that Master Spirit Singer’s Japanese is excellent but his American accent is noticeable” Toshiro said. “I am somewhat surprised Kit-kun that you’re Japanese is almost perfect and there is no trace of an accent. You speak it like a native, where did you learn?”
Kit grinned “I don’t speak it at all” he said.
At Toshiro’s questioning look he held up his arm letting them see a bracelet he was wearing with a silver elaborate fish charm on it.
“I cheat” Kit continued. “This charm is made by one of the Elvish smiths at Spirit Peak. She calls it a babelfish charm. She told me the name is from some book she read but the magic on it enables me to speak, read and understand Japanese like a native.”
“Amazing” Koto said looking at the charm with interest.
“Well” Shippo said looking at the clock “I think we had all best be getting to bed. We have a long day tomorrow.”
They all stood to head for their various rooms.
“Oh Kit” Toshiro said as they stood to head for their various rooms. “Koto and I are going out tomorrow night with her friend Juri. She is a sea spirit that Koto works with. Would you like to go along?”
“Sure” Kit answered with a yawn. “I’d love to.”

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Author's notes: Next chapter Kit gets up close and personal with Kagome, woho!