Morning comes after Niamh's dalliance with the moon bunnies. And of course, she just had to have dreams about them afterward. So much fluff to cuddle, so soft and comfy. And such stamina! At least of her dreams are to be believed. She was even a doe for part of them, and the urges, well it's probably for the best that she didn't go with that bunny. And as she wakes, she has to wonder if the dreams were part of an attempt to influence her to change her mind or she's a strange person with lust for animals. Either way, it's daybreak from the sounds of the birds that filter in from somewhere outside. Even sunlight is creeping in around the doorway; so, someone must have opened some outer walls to let light in from the outside.
Niamh stretches, and does her now habitual check of her body, to make sure there's just the deer tail and nothing more. How'd this become normal, and in such a short time?
She's a bunny! Wait, no, her eyes are just a little blurry from waking up. After some blinking she's just herself, save for the little deer tail. How ... dull!
"Right, time to see about linking up with the forest," Niamh tells herself. She just has to find Miyuki and arrange a time. Since she lost the miko uniform though, she just sticks to her nightgown for now as she opens the door of her room, hoping for a nice sunny day.
Right outside the door is a tray with a pot of tea and a masu (wooden cup) on it.
The young woman blinks at this, and looks around to see if anyone is lurking. Who could bring her tea? The kitsune make her struggle for everything, after all. So she kneels down in her doorway and examines the pot of tea and the cup for any outward signs of trickery.
It looks like an ordinary teapot, and it's warm to the touch. Nothing outwardly dangerous or mysterious. After all, who messes with tea?
Niamh is torn. On the one hand, she could really go for some tea to start the day off. But on the other.. kitsune. Could it be the work of the moon bunny? Some sort of weird 'you accepted it, so now we're married' sort of deal? On the third hand, it could just be tea, set out by a kitsune knowing that she'd torture herself guessing like this all on her own. So.. she pours a cup of tea. Then holds the cup in her hands for a bit longer to see if anything happens.
Nothing happens other than steam rising off the tea in the cup. And the knowledge that the tea is probably not getting cold. What's the worst that could happen?
"Maybe I'm expected to divine the future from the leaves," Niamh mutters, then risks having a sip.
It's bitter, but the tea is dark green, so that's to be expected. Nothing odd happens; she doesn't grow fur again, or horns, or more arms, or have snails fall from her nose, or ... Well, nothing odd happens, that's all.
Niamh frowns, starting to get really worried now. Did Miyuki bring this, because of what almost happened with her.. stalker? She has another sip (it may be warm but she isn't a gulper).
"So, how's the tea?" comes a whispy sort of voice right into Niamh's right ear. While she was sipping, steam from the teapot has taken on the form of a translucent, whispy, tiny, Noboru floating next to her head, and juuuust out of her peripheral vision.
The other advantage of sipping is that there's less to choke on. Still, Niamh coughs.. and waves her hand to try an blow away the steam. "Bitter, of course," she finally says. "Did you put it here? It's not.. you is it?"
How a cloud-fox can grin is a mystery of the ages, and he manages it. "Of course it's me. I'm now inside you, don't you feel me?" he sort of purrs. Fortunately he also says a few seconds later, "Don't be so suspicious; it's just tea. Miyuki told me I should bring you some and be 'nice'. I, of course, pointed out I have been nice, but she insisted that I be human-nice. In other words, boring."
"You could have knocked and let me know you were bringing me tea and why," Niamh says in a defeated voice. "Honestly, Noboru.. and I was actually thinking about having sex with you if Miyuki wore out later."
"Sure you were," Noboru swirls, and drapes himself over her shoulders like a damp stole. "And I didn't knock because you were sleeping. I'm not even really here, you know. I'm on the gate, keeping watch. And napping. Mostly napping."
"Yes, I was," Niamh claims. And has another sip of tea. "When I drew power from the forest before, I always had a god to help work off any excess. I don't know how the energy will work with this forest though. It's the other reason I need Miyuki there. But you have to guard the gate, so I guess it wouldn't matter anyway."
"Well, if you want kits, I am sure I can step away from the gate for a little bit," Noboru claims, and licks her left ear. Well, sort of, it's sort of a weird misty-lick.
"It doesn't work like that," Niamh claims. "And I'm surprised to hear you admit it would only take 'a little bit' too." Sip sip sip.
"Well, I've lived for centuries. A month is a little bit for me," Noboru points out. "Relative timespans, silly youkai-thing."
"Do you treat yokai differently than humans?" Niamh asks. "Or am I human when it comes to playing tricks, but yokai when you're trying to be charming?"
"You're almost yokai," Noboru claims, "You could be full, with the right encouragement. As for tricks, I play them on everyone. Miyuki could tell stories, I am sure."
"And does she get to play tricks on you?" Niamh asks. "What does it mean if a Kitsune like you were pranked? By someone who isn't a tanuki, I mean," she teases.
"Pft, tanuki. Wanna-be kitsune is all they are," Noboru remarks a bit dismissively. "And of course she messes with me; it is our nature. She rarely succeeds, of course."
"So, you don't think I'm an elaborate trick she's playing on you then?" Niamh asks. "Just to tempt and frustrate you?"
"In all fairness to Miyuki, her powers are that off a newborn. She could not manage such a persistent illusion that has physical presence. She has only had a human form for a few of your years," Noboru points out, then sticks a whispty tongue all the way in her ear, and it feels like he just licked her brain.
"Ugh!" Niamh responds, and tries to fan the steamy fox away. "I'm not talking about illusion, but collusion. Anyway, I need to thank her for the tea and talk about my forest pact. Has anything ever actually attacked the shrine before?"
"Yes. It has happened before, back when I was a two-tail and my father was the guardian," Noboru explains and shifts around as Niamh bats at him. "The mountain tengu decided to try and extend their range and control out to the sea, and the Temple was in their path. I think the villagers may still talk of it in story, the night of the bloody wings," he explains, then licks her in the other ear. To balance things out, surely.
"We don't have bird yokai where I'm from," Niamh says, and tugs her hair down over her ears and even tries to infuse it with a bit of ectoplasm to try and block the vaporous fiend.
So, he just licks the back of her neck instead. "I feel like you don't like me much," Noboru laments.
"I've never met the real you, have I?" Niamh asks, and stands up. "You're all illusion."
"You've met the real me. This isn't the real me, but you have met me," Noboru remarks. "Or do you mean my natural form?"
"I mean one where you weren't just trying to trick me," Niamh claims as she starts looking for Miyuki. "And if you did show me, how would I be able to tell?"
"Because I am majestic and handsome, and you would fall instantly in love, of course," Noboru claims. "Also, my sister is in her room. She wanted a bath this morning; though she should be done by now."
"So you should have used that form to try and seduce me then," Niamh points out, and raps lightly on Miyuki's door.
"Come in," Miyuki says from the other side. "Well, I'll leave you to it, then," Noboru says, then the mist-fox goes right down the back of her nightgown. On the inside. It also feels like he nips her on the butt before dissipating.
This at least gets Niamh to straighten her back before sliding open the door.
The inside of Miyuki's room is well-lit and the damp air betrays a recently ended hot bath. It also smells heavily of, well, fox. Standing in the center with her back mostly to her is, of course, Miyuki. Naked. Her skin is pale, almost the color of fallen snow, and perfect; like a porcelain doll. She's mostly human, of course, save one that one long white fluffy tail that lazily sways above her rump. Ephemeral, fae-like, and the sort of figure that many a drunken pub from back home would have been razed to the ground from fighting over her, one could say. She looks over her shoulder and smiles, saying, "Well, good morning, sleepyhead. No further bunny intrusions, I hope?" She spreads her arms out wide, palms up. Two blue flames burst to life and swirl slowly up her arms. In their wake silken cloth weaves out of seeming nothingness to slowly clothe her.
"Some really vivid dreams.." Niamh starts to say, then watches. "Wait, have your clothes been illusions all this time?"
"What, does the knowledge that I may have been naked the entire time worry you? You enjoy the view too much?" Miyuki inquires and even flutters her eyes and smiles; that angular face of hers having hits of the animal beneath the skin. Half amused, half predatory. "Should I go without?" she teases and those blue flames halt, and she cocks her rump 'just so', tail flicked to hide 'just enough'.
"I have to wear real, itchy clothes," Niamh pouts. "Well, except for today! Will you be able to be my guardian while I get some energy from the forest?"
"You didn't answer my question," Miyuki counter-pouts, and lets the fire-weaving continue. "I use these sorts of clothing on days where I may need to shift; real clothing makes that awkward. And yes, I should be able to."
"That makes sense," Niamh concedes. "When will you have time?" she then asks, a bit of excitement in her tone. "I can be ready in a minute!"
"Mm, I have a few chores to do, but by early afternoon I should be free," Miyuki concedes as her foxfire finishes weaving her a miko outfit, though one that looks mainly made of silk. "So, you have a few hours yet."
"Is there anything I should do to prepare?" Niamh asks. "Normally I just find a good contact spot to sit. Is there any sort of local ritual I need to follow?"
"Mm, I do not have much experience with your kinds of rituals; so I cannot say for certain," Miyuki claims as she starts braiding her own hair into one long braid to keep it out of the way. "Just be polite and respectful for the most part. And be mindful of any promises or oaths you make; they will bind you."
"I already made one with the Forest Spirit though," Niamh says, sounding a bit concerned. "There shouldn't be any others.. should there?"
Miyuki gives Niamh a look. "Do you not think other spirits might not try?" she points out. "Trusting any of us, even me, is dangerous."
"That's why I wanted you there to watch out for me," Niamh explains. "I'll be pretty exposed and focused while I'm performing the ritual."
"You missed the part about trusting me," Miyuki comments and sighs. "I am still a spirit of the wild, Nimah. My moods and whims drive me as much as any Yokai. I could simply decide I want you, and take you. Does that not worry you?"
"Well, that's the other reason I need you there," Niamh says. "Due to how I accept the energy, it can put me into heat.. or well the faerie equivalent. Normally the Horned God helps me deal with that as part of the ritual."
This makes Miyuki chuckle. "Then at least you understand how hard the instinct can be to ignore when it is full-force," she remarks. "My worst nights, I find it safer to ask Noboru or my parents to lock me in for the night. I am closer to my animal self then."
"I just get supernaturally over-excited," Niamh explains. "So I don't think it's quite the same. I just know that a normal human would not be up to it, depending on the energy and my relationship with the forest, the season and the phase of the moon. I don't have any sort of fertility cycle myself."
"Mm, well, with me you can smell it, if your sense of smell is sharp enough. Nearly any canine within miles, and most yokai, know when of of us is 'in season', as it where," Miyuki notes. "It's rather annoying, to have overwhelming urges. An itch that can't be scratched easily, say."
"Even as far away as the moon, apparently," Niamh adds. "It seems to overwhelm the men anyway. Hopefully this will help with that, at least a little bit.."
"Rabbits are a special kind of persistent," Miyuko grumbles, "And since they are part of the moon, and the lunar cycle controls us Yokai, they always know when we're easy prey."
"You'd think they'd be busy with all the moon does though," Niamh notes. "Rabbits don't have seasons, they ovulate when they have sex. So it's a surprise the moon bucks would be able to tell when anything was in season."
"Yes, but they do. That prince of theirs got me ... once. I was fortunate to avoid the actual complication of the act, but well, he's wanted me again ever since," Miyuki comments and makes a face. "He was earnest, but he .. missed the mark. And spared me children. I've avoided him since."
"Missed the.." Niamh starts to ask, then thinks about it for a moment.
"His aim was too high," Miyuki clarifies. "Fortunate for me, if unpleasant and bizarre."
"So.. a trick with your tail?" Niamh asks. "I can't believe you were totally under the influence of your hormones."
"Not totally, no, but enough I didn't refuse him outright," Miyuki remarks. "The males have it easier; they don't have to deal with the consequences or one night, usually."
"Not for the mammals anyway," Niamh notes. "Do you need help with your chores?"
"No, I can handle them fine. So, you are free to do as you will for a few hours. If you decide to go to town, though, do put on appropriate clothing," Miyuki comments.
"Just to see..." Niamh says, and then reaches out to try and touch Miyuki's clothes to see if she can feel them.
They feel real enough to the touch. Miyuki just looks mildly amused and brushes her lock of white hair from her forehead.
"Do you feel it when they're touched?" Niamh asks, curious as to how connected to a kitsune their illusions are.
"If I wish to, yes. It is all an extension of myself," Miyuki claims. "We are luminous beings, trappings are ephemeral."
"Someday I might be able to do that," Niamh says. She considers going into town.. but given how she's been looked at treated so far she doesn't think it would be very pleasant. "I'll stay around the shrine, maybe tease Noboru."
"You do seem to like playing with fire. Seducing the river dragon was a creative ploy," Miyuki comments.
Niamh shakes her head, and claims, "I didn't seduce him! I couldn't.. I was unconscious and dying from Kasumi's attack at the time!"
"Oooh, the damsel in distress technique. That always works on those honorable dragon sorts. They cannot stand to see any injustice," Miyuki remarks, then makes a sort of 'bleh' face. "Where's the fun in that?"
"He told me Noboru asked him to watch for me," Niamh adds. "I've never been that popular with dragons back home."
"And I'm sure you didn't make eyes at the dragon at all. Or worse, show him your ankles!" Miyuki gasps and clutches her chest. "Why, I hear ankles gives all the western barbarians the vapors!"
"Mine were always covered in dirt, so I never found out," Niamh claims. "Actually, the big fad back home used to be full-sleeve tattooing. I think it's finally passed."
"What, this stuff?" Miyuki asks and flicks one of her arms up. Stylized ester dragons, tigers, and foxes romp and dance as two-dimensional images all along her arm in a display of moving artwork.
"A bit like that, but they didn't move," Niamh explains. "Some are like paintings though across the back and chest. It started with sailors and soldiers. But women get them as well.
"BIt boring, isn't it? For a human. They can't change them," Miyuki comments. "I don't see the point in permanent artwork. But ... then again humans do live for only a short time."
"They change as the skin ages, and bodies change shape," Niamh says, but nods. "Not something they think about when they get them though."
Miyuki rolls her eyes and shakes her art-covered arm at Niamh. And ... the art hops off and starts running around on Niamh, chasing each other!
"Ah!" Niamh says, but less in shock than in delight. "I'll definitely need to try something like this!" she says.
They're two-dimensional, so when they're on-edge you can't even see them. At some point the dragon eats the tiger, then the fox eats the dragon! Then it burps and looks smug.
"Foxes are very hungry, apparently," Niamh says, and smirks. "Good thing I'm not a tiger or a dragon then, right?"
She says right as the fox art starts chewing on her head. Well, looking like it is, anyway, it's not getting anywhere. Miyuki just shrugs. "You know what they say about art. Everyone has different taste," she remarks.
"Ooooo," Niamh winces at the pun. "I'm going to practice my forest dance. Are there going to be a lot of humans visiting the shrine?"
"Some in about an hour usually," Miyuki explains. "That is when my parents have to sit and listen to all their prayers and decide which to relay to the Gods. They keep the worst ones for us to laugh at over dinner."
"So.. I should wear clothes probably," Niamh says. "Or keep to a less open area. Which would you recommend?"
"Less open area. They'll think a monster is running loose," Miyuki points out. "Well, a different monster."
"Where is a good spot?" Niamh asks. "It doesn't need to have soil or anything. It's only for practice since it's been a good part of a year for me."
"Kitchen," Miyuki offers. "With Inari. And The Broom." She grins.
Niamh purses her lips. "I need more room," she says.
"Best we have," Miyuki claims.
"But you wouldn't be able to watch me then," Niamh teases.
"I'll be doing chores," Miyuki reminds.
"I'll wear something and practice near the forest gate, I don't think anyone is likely to stumble across me there," Niamh promises.
"If you summon monsters, well, you get to explain that to the patron deity," Miyuki remarks as she heads for the door. "I'll come find you in a couple hours. Don't do anything too crazy." Meanwhile, the fox drawing is still trying to eat her head.
Niamh returns to her room, and sheds her nightshirt to put on her ceremonial tabard, which she ties in place with the Side-hair belt. She leaves the sickle, since this isn't the Lunar ceremony. Then she heads towards the rear of the shrine, checking for stray fox tails just to be on the safe side.
No stray fox tails! She's in the clear, maybe. The gate is even ahead. Waiting. Looming there. Ready to devour her.
She doesn't go up to the gate, but stays near the shrine. She also checks how high the sun is in the sky.. mainly so she can tell which direction to face to see her own shadow. Then she begins her practice, paying close attention to her leg and food movements. She isn't that concerned that she's lost her balance after so long at sea, but is a bit concerned that she may not be as steady.
Well, so far her balance seems fine. The land quit feeling like it was moving a while ago. And so far, she's not summoned any demons, either.
Niamh beings to filter out her surroundings, as she goes through the forms even if not actually performing the ritual. It's more like reciting a formula with her body.
Better, she's able to go through the ritual motions from muscle memory nearly flawlessly. Which begs the question ... when is doom coming?
Opening her eyes, Niamh takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. It's never good to go from a near-meditative state to full awareness too quickly, at least for her. She then takes a look around to see if anything is watching her or trying to sneak up.
Nope. Nothing. She has the entire area to herself. At least it seems that way.
"I could try the singing part," she tells herself, and rubs her throat. She thinks her voice is a bit harsher than it was from the salt air. It isn't an important part of the ritual, just something that helped her focus. She walks towards the gate to look down the steps that lead to the forest floor.
They're empty. No looming monsters waiting to eat her that she can see.
So, Niamh sits at the top step and watches the forest, enjoying the dapples of light, the shadows and subtle movements. Moreso than the lack of monsters, she is glad that no locals came across her. But they're probably only just now starting to petition the kitsune.
"You know," Katsumi remarks from the spot she seems to have appeared at right beside Niamh, "I could gut you right now. Tear you apart into a hundred little pieces before that ... he ... could even get here." She's sort of midform, an unkempt dark and wild-looking creature, all fang, fur, claw, and eye.
"I don't know why you think I have any sort of relationship with Noboru," Niamh says, trying to keep her composure. "Besides, didn't you already kill me?"
"Obviously not," Katsumi remarks as she reaches over and takes that two-dimensional fox art that was still trying to eat Niamh's head, and eats it instead. "I don't understand why he even bothers protecting some half-breed like you. You're nothing, you're not one side, or the other, you're just a freak in the middle." she growls.
"He only protects me if it means embarrassing me somehow," Niamh counters. "But like you said, I'm not one or the other. So it's not like he's protecting a human, is it?"
"It's worse, he's protecting some output of one of us that slept with a human the Gods know when," Katsumi growls and actually grabs the collar of her tabbard "His sister ... that is understandable. But you... What redeeming qualities does some little maggot-ladden-short-lived half-breed have?!"
Niamh looks into Kasumi's eyes. "No, I'm not the result of a yokai and a human mating. I'm not yokai at all. Maybe yosei, a bit, but my ancestors were kami, to use your term. I'm as far removed from your world as anyone you're ever likely to meet. And when I'm done here, I'll be going back to my world. I have a pact with Daiki-sama. My existence has nothing at all to do with you and your anger at Noboru."
"How dare you, you," Kasumi growls right into her face, complete with dog breath. She fumes, tails fluff, and then seem to deflate. "Bastard always had a thing for lost causes," she says as her grip relents. "Irritating, annoying, never seems to care about anything bastard," she adds and punches the stone step. It cracks. "Why won't that jerk just kill me and get it over with. Nothing I do ever enrages him enough to even try. He's a four tail now, I am beyond him! Yet, ooh, celestial backing, he is far more powerful that he ever shows. He could do it, one of a few who could. He could end my pain of living; I died with our family and he won't end this, this ... husk. I even take his new pet to death's door and he does nothing to me."
"Is there nothing for you then?" Niamh asks. "Death is the only end you can accept? Not.. making him jealous, or.. tricking him?"
"Where is the joy in that now?" Kasumi barks. "You have no idea what it is like to lose a child. Your children. Nothing matters. And the one I had them with doesn't care enough to ... to ..."
"To suffer as a parent should," Niamh suggests. "Or he does, and covers it with this.. behavior of his. Seeking to amuse himself all the time. He can't always have been like that, surely?"
"Kasumi. Have you never understood I could never stop loving you," Noboru says from behind them, "Not even with everything you've done. You have wanted me to kill you, to allow your rage and anger be justified. To allow this travesty of the beauty you once were to be the one I have to remember into my eternity. I won't. I am sorry, but I will not. I remember the real beauty of your being, and as much as you cloud it in rage, I can still see it within. I lost my children. I cannot lose you too, Katsumi. Then our family would be truly dead." Katsumi turns and looks; and sitting behind them is a fox-creature, white and blue, the size of a small horse, with four tails, each tipped in blue fire.
Niamh turns to look at Noboru. So this is his real self, she thinks, but doesn't smile. This is certainly not the time for something like that.
Kasumi starts to puff back up, all five tails bristling out. For a few seconds anyway and then she just seems to deflate. "Screw you, Celestial! I'm Nogitsune, a demon fox! I, I ..." she tries to growl, but there's no real bite behind it. No force.
"Is that.. a problem here?" Niamh has to ask. "Demon and Celestial, I mean. Is that forbidden?"
"You hurt," Noboru says without any of the usual lilt or humor in his voice. "I know. I know. As do I. As will I always. But, I cannot let it define me, otherwise I've let others control me. Intended or not. And I know your soul is stronger than that too. You've raged, but my young yokai friend here, you didn't kill her. And you won't. For all your rage, your wild heart, you were always just. You did not punish those who did not truly deserve it. Well, except once, anyway." His head cants a bit and he addresses Niamh now, "No, it doesn't really matter. It just denotes those bound to a specific God, and those that run free. Beyond that it does not define much."
"Who then? Who have I harmed that was innocent? And why did you never take me down for that? Oh mighty servant of the Gods, why have you not brought justice down upon me?" Katsumi snarls right back.
Niamh wonders if she counts as the innocent one, after Katsumi's attack on her. She doesn't feel like bringing that up at the moment, however.
"You," Noboru answers simply. "In all the years since we lost our children, the only innocent you ever tortured and tormented without relief was yourself. Everyone else, even this little one," he continues and gestures a tail at Niamh, "You made sure she would not die from wounds. You know this forest better than anyone; you would not have chased anyone you intended to actually kill to a river god you knew would save her. You may be a bit older than me, but neither of us were born in the past few years." He even manages a sort of half-smile at that. He addresses Niamh again, "Even in our rage, we live in half-truths and illusions. She would have you believe she would kill you, but she never would. Not even when we try to convince ourselves with them; we cannot go beyond what we really are."
"The risk of using too many illusions," Niamh suggests. "You sometimes fool yourself into believing them?"
"Only when you want to fool yourself," Noboru notes, "And when you're human. Humans excel at it."
"High praise," Niamh notes.
Kasumi bristles, she snarls ... then just sort of deflates. The dusky ball of rage seems to wash away, and leaves behind a tired-looking five-tailed fox about the same size as Noboru is. Elegant in her own way, proud lithe, and with centuries of wear on her pelt; leaving it dried and thinning, remnants of what once was likely beautiful in its inky night-sky darkness. "I hate you for making it impossible to hate you," she tries to retort at him, lamely. Noboru actually chuckles a little, noting, "I've heard from many I can be quite trying, yes." That last bit earns Niamh an eyeball.
"I'm still amazed you aren't constantly being slapped," Niamh notes to Noboru. To Kasumi she asks, "Do you still love him?"
"With all my heart," Kasumi concedes and looks away. "But I am not what he once loved. It is in that he is fooling himself to believe otherwise."
"People change," Niamh says. "That's expected when you fall in love."
"Oh hush, Kasumi. I have known you through the best, and the worst. That which I loved never changed, not to me. Come, let us actually talk. No threatening, no growling. Just talk. And leave this poor young yokai out of our troubles," Noboru requests. "She has enough of her own worries, she does not need ours."
"He's still infuriating," Kasumi remarks as an aside to Niamh. "That hasn't changed at all. It's enough to want to punch him in the face."
Niamh stands up, and says, "He does invite being slapped. I still have some time before Miyuki will be free, so I'll you two to have your talk if you like. Unless you need me to be a witness or something?"
"I'd rather be on your back than punched in the face," Noboru comments, "As they say about kitsune, age only makes the back view more beautiful. And we could teach the young one a few things, too."
And there's the inappropriate comment, from a Celestial," Kasumi sighs and shakes her head. "Whenever things get serious, he always retreats into these sort of comments," she explains to Niamh. "Don't take it seriously." There's a pause, then she asks, "Unless you want to take it seriously, you're not too hideous for a foreign yokai-thing."
"I never know when to take the kitsune seriously," Niamh admits. "I normally look healthier."
"Come on, let us go to a quiet place and leave this one to ponder the mysteries of the universe. Like, where do all the tails go when two old kitsune consummate their relationship. See, humans think arms can be a problem..." Noboru comments, and earns him a tail right in his face from Kasumi. "Come along. I swear, you can be as bad as a one-tail," she mutters. Noboru gives Niamh a wink ... and is slowly led away by the tail now in his jaws.
Niamh smiles slightly at the kitsune and nogitsune. One less thing to worry about.. maybe more if Noboru is distracted enough to not tease her further. She heads back toward the shrine, and begins to shake from the pent up fear. She'll have to recenter herself again, so she starts her dance once more..