Author's Note
It's CHRINWIS

CHRIMSIAS

CHIMIM

XCHRISMTWAD

Christmas.

I love you :3.

Also! So, I came across this catchy pop song, and decided 'hey, what if that was a story idea : D?!' Fun!

And then, all of a sudden, I got BLASTED with the ultra cool reminder that I totally love this one super awesome amazing mythical creature?! FUN!!

'What? AC? Is this another meet-cute? Are you running out of ideas?'

Excuse you, meet-cutes at Christmas aRE WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT- ÙwÚ

And here we are!! I hope chu enjoy ;3!!

Headcannons in this chapter
- Beef owns a music store. He has a really large collection of discs, accumulated over the years, and he enjoys spreading the joy of music to all who visit his cosy store!
- Beef moved into the current town he lives in, though not entirely on his own impulse.
- The town is surrounded by acres and acres of forest, and winters are always particularly memorable. Christmas is a wonderful time of year for them.
- The forest is rumoured to be the dwelling place of many legendary creatures, with good creatures roaming the day, and evil ones ruling the nights.
- Tourists are usually attracted to much larger populations and towns around the area, but occasionally do visit Beef's town.
- A small child, on holiday with his family, once got lost in the woods. They did eventually emerge without a scratch, but it was as if that experience...
- Kitsunes go by many names, many forms. They are but one legend told around the fireplace, with each description never quite the same.
- People don't go into the forest. And if they must, they stick to the paths. There's no good in getting lost, alone in the cold and dark.

———

The bell rung once time as their last (and surely this time, last) customer departed, potentially happy with their purchase.

Beef exhaled slowly and continued placing various music discs back into their original places.

Having had a customer searching for a very specific disc, yet not remembering much about the disc itself at all, Beef had been forced to joyfully conduct a search-and-guess trial throughout the several hundred music discs that made up his stock.

That explained the current mess upon the already-full shelves, with rejected discs haphazardly balanced upon their brethren, or otherwise unsafely lying. The especially precarious situation of some made Beef cringe.

It always seemed to be this time of year that Beef had the least luck. Ironic really, as anyone who knew the 'true meaning' behind this wintery festival could say, but it wasn't as if Beef despised the holiday.

Oh no, that would be far too much. No, he simply disliked the cruddy eccentricity that would accompany it- any way, any who and any how, he believed Christmas wasn't the greatest time of the year.

Dryly, Beef wondered if it was something to do with the '20% off Xmas speed-sale!' sticker plastered to his window. The 'speed-sale' had been going on for a good two weeks now, and it wasn't even reasonably close to Christmas yet.

Was this a sign? Beef flipped the little wooden sign hanging over his door from 'open' to 'closed'. Well, that was a sign. But Beef expected another, more metaphorical one before he'd discredit the unluckiness of being sullen at Christmas.

Lights were flicked off one by one. Keys jingled as Beef locked up more valuable music cases, as well as the cash register. The shop door was the final thing to be locked up tight.

Another tiring day was over and done with- he could finally retire upstairs, to... Do whatever he felt like doing.

It wouldn't be a lot, would it?

Still. Beef mused that anything he did at home would be a little better, as the reprimands stemming from how 'he was working' wouldn't be hanging over his head.

Click. Click.

Bzzzt!

———

Hello, cherished ladies and gentlemen! Welcome back to another exciting adventure on 'Folklore of the Past', a show dedicated to exploring the wonders of the many myths and legends embedded in places all across the world!

In this festive season, we will be encroaching on the tale of a legendary creature originating from the beautiful lands of Japan: the kitsune!

We'll be going over what this spirit is, what it does, and everything in between over the next few episodes. So, if you've ever wanted to learn about this marvellously mysterious fox-spirit of mischief, stay tuned!

———

"... Are you joking me?"

... So then. How did Beef get here again?

It had been a normal day at the music store. It was supposed to have been normal, actually, no, it should have been a very good day: Beef hadn't run into any issues or troubles at all during the morning.

Then, right at the end of a hard day's labour, it happened. The string on his open/closed sign snapped beyond repair.

Beef headed off to the cheapest place he could buy questionably sold string from (he knew it to be reliable: it was where he went every time his sign broke). That placed him at the art store, right at the edge of town.

Snow had begun falling at a steady rate a few days ago- the entirety of the quaint little town Beef lived in was blanketed by a thick white smothering of it. With such a small population and therefore little need to do so, not much had been cleared.

Even less had been cleared in the surrounding evergreen forestry, which was what Beef found himself admiring through the art store's large windows. Distantly, he could recall memories of being very excited when he first spend a holiday at this town, and had played in the snow for so long that he'd gotten both a cold and a harsh scolding from his mother.

Once, he even dared entering the forest itself. The experience he had then probably warranted an even bigger scolding, yet his mother hadn't chastised him once about it. She didn't need to- with how he remained willingly glued to her side the next day, he may as well have grounded himself.

A smile tugged at his lips. No one else would be so foolish as to repeat his actions.

Or... So he thought.

As he swore, just as he let the shop door swing closed behind him with cheerfully bagged string (and a few other items that'd caught his nostalgia-induced interest) held in his arms... That he saw someone in the woods.

At first, he could've passed it off as one of the funkier-looking trees and gone on his merry way.

Yet he looked back anyway.

In stunned silence, Beef locked eyes with them.

———

There was someone in the snowy woods.

Stood calmly just beyond the forest, directly in plain sight, stood a person Beef assumed was around his height.

What he first paid attention to was their clothes: while Beef wasn't at all versed in fashion, even he could tell that whatever the stranger wore was nothing local. It looked to be a robe of shimmery scarlet cloth, beautifully embroidered and hemmed with golden thread. A matching sash ran about their waist.

Their shoes, wooden and elevated. In their hands, a delicate red fan. They carried two long objects on their back, covered, with the straps secured over their chest. A stark black fabric mask covered the lower portion of their face.

Speaking of which...

Pale skin, sharp facial features, hair as white as snow, yet looking to be as soft as a bird's downy feathers.

... And... Something else about their appearance... Something that should be not just unusual, but downright impossible...

Beef blinked once.

He blinked again, to confirm that the stranger had indeed simply vanished after catching him staring, the quiet disbelief mirrored in both of their faces.

Yes. They were gone.

Beef jumped and looked about, but he couldn't form any guesses to where the luxuriously-dressed stranger in the woods had gone. There weren't even any footprints left behind from where they stood, and behind him, various townsfolk continued on with their lives as normal, as if the visage Beef encountered seconds ago never appeared at all.

Still reeling, but recognising there wasn't anything he could do, Beef returned home and questioned his sanity. Knowing him, he'd probably imagined the whole event, yet... Also, knowing him... Beef doubted his imagination would ever be so inspired by anything that-

He grabbed the remote in a flash and turned his television on. Just like last time, the same channel that broadcasted a program about 'mythical creatures' was playing. Due to his detour, Beef had missed the opportunity to watch program itself, but it didn't matter.

He hadn't really paid attention to it last time. But had he? Had he been unconsciously absorbing all the information shown in one random program broadcasting that day?

Surely. Surely so. It was the only explanation. There was no other possible way that he could've perfectly imagined seeing a literal mythical creature.

... But what if...?

No, no it must've been his imagination. No one else reacted in the slightest to the not-that-hidden creature! And it wasn't as if-if this 'creature' could just become invisible in a split second, right?

... Right...?

Hesitantly, Beef took out his phone.

Time to do some research (... This didn't count as stalking, right?).

———

The stranger- the imagined stranger matched almost everything the program's first show gave.

Yet... Beef definitely saw a human figure. With white fox ears, and... How many was it? A number of large white tails. The program explained the potential meanings behind seeing a human form vs a true form, but he hadn't found anything about what a hybrid form meant... So, was this kitsune evil or good? Did-

No! No, it was still just his imagination! There's no way something like that could exist!

... But what if...

Furthermore, what about how surprised they looked when they noticed Beef looking at them? How about, again, how they were a unmentioned hybrid form between fox and human?

To that, and to all the other thoughts tangled in his head, Beef didn't know the answer. But... He could find out... If he tried to find them again.

He could pretty confidently say their otherworldly appearance was imprinted within his mind, lest they changed it, but Beef was sure he'd recognise them by their...

... Their... Eyes...

Beef froze. The conflicting, muddled thoughts in his head froze too. Something clicked into place.

After a moment's pause, he threw his phone onto the couch and buried his head into a pillow, his screeching muffled.

"... Are you joking me?"

They had the most beautiful blue eyes Beef had ever seen.

———

HelLo, chErished lAdies and gentlemen! Welcome back to another Very exciting adventure on 'FolklorE of the Past!'.

You join us today in the newest episode of this month's season, where we will be discovering the secrets of the Japanese kitsune!

———

Huh. That was... Ominous.

The most recent episode of kitsune-news (a slapdash nickname Beef dubbed his only source of marginally-more-reliable-than-conspiracy-theories information on magical fox people) started with a chilling echo to the usual intro.

Beef swore he heard a very unsettling word being whispered...

Well, he could always rewatch the recording of the episode for any extra information, which he'd begun to do in case he ever needed to quickly refer back to his own notes. Or if anyone else needed to, in the event that there would be an investigation on the town's local music-disc seller's sudden and mysterious death.

That would be... If his body was ever found in those woods...

Beef gulped.

After a hearty helping of insomnia and restlessness, he'd made up his mind: he was going to the forest to try finding this kitsune. Just to assuage his curiosity. If he found nothing, he'd be satisfied enough by the aforementioned nothing to leave the matter alone. If he found something... Beef hadn't gotten that far yet.

Work couldn't have flown by any faster.

Before long, Beef found himself standing at the outskirts of town. Alone.

Intrusive thoughts about becoming lost for hours in the cold and dark rose; Beef quelled his trepidation as best as he could. He had to make the choice to stay or leave within the next few seconds, lest any distractions turn him away forcibly.

It wasn't with a clear mind that Beef entered the forest.

———

"Hello? Is... Anyone there?"

The forest was about as peculiar as it seemed. Tall, heavy trees dusted with silver, snow crunching beneath Beef's feet as he traversed uneven terrain, framing a path he assumed he was following.

Yet the lack of signs in the forest didn't tell the same tale.

"Hello? Hey! Fox-person! Are you there?"

A hour might've passed. Several hours might've followed that first hour around the clock.

"... Are you there...?"

Before much longer, several hours had definitely passed: Beef looked up and the sun was setting. A little glumly, he recognised his hunt to be unsuccessful.

Not that he expected it to be, but the enticing anticipation of it potentially being real... Like a little kid, he could admit he grew quite attached to the irrevocable urge.

He tried not to let the feeling haunt him as he headed back.

Or tried to head back.

Hold on, where was the path back home?

Beef's eyes widened. Panic at once began slowly building up within his chest; searching around yielded fruitless results- there was no trace of where his prior 'path' had been. He'd likely lost sight of it ages ago, yet been too absorbed in his quest that he hadn't noticed.

With breathless laughter, he concluded he was lost.

Alone in a dark, cold forest.

All because of a stupid descirin to try and chase after some crazy hallucination.

After a moment's reprieve, Beef promptly turned around and kicked the nearest possible solid object.

It happened to be one of the multitudinous evergreen pines growing in the forest.

And then something fell out of the tree.

———

It'd fallen, crumpled on the ground, without a sound. Beef gaped. It was far too big to be a branch, and far too colourful to be anything natural.

It took him the next second to figure out what it was.

Beef naturally let out a yell.

The thing stirred.

Beef yelled again and turned to bolt away, then thought better of it and shuffled forwards clumsily, heart in his throat, as he stammered a partly terrified, partly horrified question.

"Are you dead?!"

Gradually, the stranger groaned and sat up. A helpful voice at the back of Beef's head chirped a confirmation that yes, this was fox-person, and yes, they were alive and could potentially turn him into mincemeat if they were feeling rightfully annoyed.

Fox-person shook the snow out of their hair and clothes. They remained seated on the ground, adjusted in a more comfortable position, and turned to face the shell-shocked human who'd kicked them out of a tree.

"... Unfortunately, no." They croaked.

Ah, they could speak English. How utterly amazing. Beef started stammering out further muddled apologies of some kind, but fox-person raised their hand, and he took the hint.

He also noted that fox-person also rather pretty black stiletto nails, and then shut up because oh no, wait, those are claws. Rather sharp ones.

"... You're not supposed to see me." Fox-person cleared their throat. They probably expected some sort of response from the lack of further explanation. However, not getting it, they continued. "... How is it that you can see me?"

That snapped Beef back into reality, spluttering. "What- how am I supposed to know?! You're- You're not even supposed to be real, you're a... Fox... Person...?"

"Kitsune."

"Same thing! Anyway!" Been huffed. "What is it that makes you think I have any more of an idea what's going on than you, huh? I'm currently lost in a forest, in the dark. Or it should be dark, but now that I'm looking around, it's not, and I'm guessing that's something to do with you, since you're all magical and stuff."

Fox-person nodded plainly. Beef stared back at them expectantly, which only led to a questioning tilt of the head.

"... Yes?"

"... Look. I'm really sorry for knocking you out of your tree. But I'm lost, and you're a magic fox-person-"

"Kitsune."

"Close enough. So could you... I don't know... Magic me out, or something?"

Fox-person paused for the first time. They seemed truly quite hesitant, as opposed to the cool demeanour they'd radiated before. "I can't exactly 'magic' you out, but I could certainly guide you out of my territory after you help me get to my home."

"Well, that's fine! Yeah, that's fine!" Beef grinned, starting to move away. He realised mid-step that fox-per... Kitsune hadn't moved from their spot seated upon the ground. A flash of doubt ran across his mind. "... You're not expecting some sort of... Price in exchange... Right? Uh. And-And maybe I don't have a soul?"

Fox-person's eyes widened at the accusation. Before any uneasiness could truly settle, their shoulders began shaking; their hands flew to cover their mouth as a light flush made its way across their face. Were they... Laughing at him...?

Beef was baffled. Though still, he couldn't help distantly comparing the kitsune's laughter to the sound of wind-chimes, as dainty as the rest of their image. As said kitsune begun calming down, he brushed the thought away.

"No. I... Uh... I don't want anything in return, your time will be sufficient. And kitsunes don't steal souls. Or if they do, it's news to me." They assured him rather jovially.

"Oh." Beef paused awkwardly. He was still surprised by the fact that a so-called mythical creature could be so... Human. He decided he should still keep his guard up, just in case. "... So... Ahem. What's the... The hold... Up?"

Real smooth.

"I can't stand up." Kitsune answered, and Beef could almost envision the teasing grin beneath their mask.

He was about to retort, until Beef remembered that he was the one who kicked a mythical fox-person out of a tree.

Considering how the kitsune hadn't fled like at their last encounter, it was because they were probably unable to flee. Considering how well they were taking it, they probably also didn't plan on spiting Beef anytime soon.

... Beef threw a curse at whichever divine deity existed in his world, and hoped it wasn't the kitsune's mom or something.

———

"Right, now I'm sure you're doing this on purpose!" Beef sighed, lacking the right amount of energy to mask the begrudging amusement beginning to seep into his words.

Etho (as he found out, the kitsune had a name other than 'fox-person') hummed. "You can't prove I am." He retorted, casually resting his chin on Beef's head and further mussing up the brunette's hair.

Beef simply sighed again. There wasn't any point in trying to match wits with Etho (also something that he had the privilege of finding out). Besides, it wasn't his hair that he was really that fussed about.

He was more confused about why Etho was being so... Clingy.

It wasn't to say that he hated it! Beef, though he wasn't exactly sure on if he wanted to say so or not, thought it was quite endearing. Which was exactly why he was quite confused by it.

Excluding Beef currently the kitsune a piggyback while listening to directions back to Etho's home, there hadn't been a particular need for Etho to be so comfortable around him.

Was Etho just a naturally affectionate person? Did kitsunes just do that to people? Nothing in Beef's research said so... If it wasn't the former, then Beef pondered if foxes and very snuggly cats were really all that different.

Side note, please do not go out into a forest and try to yoink a wild fox. That's a really bad idea.

"I think it's my turn to ask a question..." Etho stated, again messing up Beef's hair.

Ah, yes. They had been asking each other questions to both pass the time, and because Beef really wanted to segway away from talking about how he kicked a mythical kitsune out of a tree.

In passing, he'd found out a few interesting things about his new companion; no doubt, the intake of information was mutual.

Beef prepared himself to answer another simple conversation-starter question.

"Are you single?"

"Blue. No, wait, WHAT?"

That was not a simple conversation-starter question.

Etho, the sneaky scamp, shrugged. "You said that you live in an apartment above your shop. I'm assuming you don't live with your parents anymore judging by that, so I wanted to know if you lived alone or shared a home with somebody different."

"Then- Then why not just ask me that?!"

"Because, Beefers," Etho prodded Beef's cheek. "Of this reaction. It's fun to tease you. And it's better than having you terrified of my existence."

"... I could dump you onto the ground right here and right now."

"But then you'd be lost in the forest."

Beef was very unimpressed. And yet, he didn't drop Etho at all in the remaining duration of their little journey.

———

Hello, cherished ladies and gentleMen! WElcome back to another exciting adventure on 'Folklore of the Past!'.

You join us today in the newest episode of this month's season, where we will be discovering the secrets of the Japanese kitsune!

———

"NO- no, no, please don't, not again..."

Startled, Beef leapt back warily, hands up in surrender. Etho appeared in his line of vision but a moment later, breathing heavily.

"... You... Came back? You actually came back..."

Beef lowered his hands. "I'm more surprised that I was able to find this place again... All the trees look really similar..."

"Oh, no, this isn't the same place, if you're talking about when we met last time. You're wayyy off, Beefers." Etho quirked his brow, coy. "It was more of a 'I'm surprised that was able to find you'"

Beef made a dismissive noise coming from the back of his throat while Etho snickered, following the now-healed fox-spirit to his 'den'.

Den... What a name for a home. It made sense, seeing as Etho was sometimes more four-legged than usual, but the name held a deeper sort of endearment than Beef deciphered.

The den itself always seemed very full of that warm, fuzzy sort of feeling, despite being just as out in the open as any other place in the forest. Beef blamed it on the brightening spirit who dwelled in it. That sort of charm could make anyplace feel warm.

"So. What brings you here this time, Beefers?"

There were several reasons.

He wanted to pass time again. He wanted to see if Etho was alright. He was lonely. And most of all, he wanted to know more about the mysterious kitsune who lived in the forest.

Maybe a part of him wanted to talk to Etho again.

Yet, Beef smirked. A stark contrast to the tired, muted smiles Etho had been used to. "Why don't you try to guess? I bet my free time next week that you won't be able to guess. There. The ball's in your court."

For a moment, Etho seemed surprised. "Oh? You do realise who you're saying that to, right? My very being won't let me go easy on you."

"Yeah. And I'm counting on it..."

———

Beef maybe lost the bet.

They'd bantered about it, but ultimately, Beef conceded before Etho could verbally announce victory. He originally thought that was it, his little game was over and done with, but Etho hadn't been satisfied.

"Because that wasn't the truth.", came the simple rebuttal from Etho, after questioned by a inquisitive Beef. He had said nothing more on the subject after that; the rest of their time was spent aimlessly chatting, with Beef only recognising he'd been too distracted to pry hours after he'd left.

It was a wonder Beef could keep up with the excited kitsune. To the extent of his knowledge, Etho's prior life consisted of being alone for an unspecified amount of time- no mortal beings ever saw him, only he them.

That would explain why he was so shocked to lock gazes with Beef that fateful day.

And why he was far more talkative once you got to know the guy.

The two would talk for hours on end. Neither was bored by the other, and always had new things to say.

Beef spoke of his candid life of caring for others in the store, the customers, the music he do dearly treasured. He revealed the tale of how he came to set up his own little business in this charming snowy town, deciding this was where he wanted to be after but one visit.

He wove images of concrete and diamond, from the lives of the rest of his many siblings. He shared the quiet remembrance of his closest relative, one of his sisters, who disappeared to pursue happiness the countryside one night and inspired him to grasp at the opportunity to do the same.

Etho, on the other hand, spun tales as old as the forest itself, of timber and winters too long past to be felt. He sung praise to the founders of the town, to their determination and persistence, to their bright hearths and simple gestures keeping their barebones settlements alive with warm.

He shared the journey of change, of the growth their small home underwent. How a mountain became a river, how a city became a town, how humans and mythical creatures had walked side-by-side one bright night and had never done so again.

There were things that still lived in the forest, just like and yet nothing like Etho himself.

Beef, heeding these words, didn't notice anything at first. Yet slowly, the more he came to the forest in search of his friend, he did. He experienced unusual things in the forest.

A whisper stirring the trees, a flutter of movement between branches. As if his ever-growing bond with their resident kitsune allowed him to build trust with the forest itself. And he was not afraid.

It wasn't the first time he'd seen the forest like this, after all. It was simply the first time it hadn't been afraid of him.

———

Hello, cherished lAdies and gentLemen! WelcOme back to aNother Exciting adventure on 'Folklore of the Past!'.

You join us today in the newest episode of this month's season, where we will be discovering the secrets of the Japanese kitsune!

———

Red.

There was red.

At the back of Etho's neck, there was red.

Beef dropped the bag he was carrying, immediately fretting over the kitsune despite Etho's protests.

Careful to avoid potentially harming the kitsune further, he moved the neck of Etho's kimono away. A large gash had begun to stain the fabric.

"... Uh, Beef...?"

"... ETHO WHAT THE-"

———

Etho's speaking privileges had been taken away. He was also avoiding eye-contact, though that part was voluntary.

Beef finished addressing the wound on Etho's neck in tense silence, using the same potion he watched Etho use on a sprained ankle some time ago. He wasn't at all sure what was in it, though he also wasn't sure if he wanted to know.

To his immense relief, the potion still did the trick: the wound stopped bleeding and once cleaned with some water and a cloth, looked much better than it had before.

Now. For the fox in the den.

Beef took a deep breath. "... What happened?" He coaxed. Etho flinched at the question, and a pang of guilt echoed in his heart. "I-Etho, I'm not mad at you, I promise! I... I just..."

Etho cut him off. "I know. I did something dumb and I worried you. I'm sorry."

"Etho, I... You don't need to apologise for that." Beef inhaled sharply. As Etho lifted a hand to touch the back of his neck, the action almost indifferent, a jolt of panic and frustration sparked through him. "Etho. Listen to me..."

In a flash, Beef clasped the kitsune's shaking palm in his own. Etho looked at him at once, and finally, Beef saw what emotion the kitsune had been desperately trying to hide from him.

Behind those blue eyes, usually so full of mischief, was fear.

"... Oh... Etho..."

It was as if a dam broke. The sheer concern in Beef's voice let those fear-locked eyes fill with glistening tears; Etho fell into his arms, bitter sobs shaking him to his core, and Beef held him firmly as they did.

He had seen Etho's twin katanas as soon as they'd entered the den. Etho didn't wear them today, despite always doing so every time Beef had gone into the forest to find him. They were, for the first time Beef had seen, unsheathed.

Unsheathed and dirty. He didn't comment on it.

Instead, while muttering soft assurances, Beef noted how small the kitsune was in his arms. He knew that Etho was strong, easily surpassing any mortal in any aspect of 'strength'. But...

Beef hugged Etho closer to him. Protectively, because Etho deserved to have someone who would protect him too.

———

After some time, Etho fell asleep in Beef's arms.

The latter couldn't stop smiling. He was glad Etho would at least sleep easy; a strong, undeniable feeling of warmth spread through him at the sight of the slumbering kitsune.

The wistful part of his mind wished he could stay like this forever.

And he did stay, peacefully, for a while.

However, faster than he could've ever wanted, the sky became dark. Soon, the forest would become alive with different beasts and creatures, those of which who thrived in the silvery moonlight. Those of which Beef wasn't sure he knew to be safe.

Thus, with a heavy heart, he set to carrying his cherished companion to a comfier place of rest. As quickly as possible, Beef separated himself from Etho.

Quickly, or else he'd be forced to stay the night.

———

Hello, cherished ladies and gentlemen! Welcome Back to anothEr exciting advEnture on 'Folklore of the Past!'.

You join us today in the newest episode of this month's season, where we will be discovering the secrets of the Japanese kitsune!

———

Beef did not see Etho that day.

It shook him. More than he thought it would've.

He'd wandered into the forest and waited for the kitsune to appear before him, with a smile and a quip, to lead him to the den so they could talk away the day.

Etho never showed up.

Of course, he panicked. Beef yelled the kitsune's name, ran about the acres and acres of forest, even kicked a few trees in hopes that somewhere, somewhere, Etho was hiding, laughing as he watched Beef so frantically trying to find him.

Even now, Beef knew that Etho wouldn't play a cruel joke like that. He'd rather believe that than other explanations though...

... But Etho never showed up.

The forest, too, had felt... Uneasy. Ever since Beef stepped foot into its realm, it was like the first time he'd ever entered the forest as an adult all over again, when he was but a stranger in an unknown location.

He wasn't though. He wasn't a stranger in Etho's territory. And the forest knew that.

So why... Why did everything suddenly feel so... Empty...?

"Hello?! Etho? Anyone?!"

Beef wheezed, slowing to a stop from the bad pace he'd been bolting at. Leaning against a tree pathetically, he tried his best to catch his breath. Up above, the sun was starting to set.

Lost. Cold. Dark.

Alone.

Then, he heard something.

Beef stood up a little straighter.

There it was again. Something was... There. A voice. It was a voice, talking, and getting louder.

"... H-Hello? Etho? Is... That you?" Beef called out towards the direction of the fuzzy voice. It quietened immediately after this. Beef remained still.

Just as he was about to call out again, however, it spoke once more.

Hello.

Beef nearly screamed.

The voice was inside his head.

Why are you here?

Why... Was he... Here? Beef then did try to scream, but it was as if he was frozen in place. None of his muscles moved from the tensed, defensive position he took before. In his mind, he was writhing violently, trying to get any part of his body to move, to run away as fast as he could, but outside...

He stood still.

You don't belong here.

... Fine. Beef concluded. If... Entertaining this strange voice was the only way out of this situation, and potentially the only lead he could have on why things were so wrong all of a sudden... He'd entertain it.

"No." Beef replied, simply. "I don't."

Then why are you here?

"... I got lost."

The voice... Was it laughing at him? Beef didn't quite know if his answer had been expected or not. Regardless, he wasn't sure if he could trust the strange voice, and he didn't-

You were looking for the kitsune by the current name of 'Etho'.

... Want to mention Etho...

"... How do you know him? Where is he? What have you done to him?!" Beef demanded. The voice seemed to laugh again. "ANSWER ME!"

Don't you dare.

A metaphorical chill went down Beef's spine.

I am the one who will be asking questions. Not you, Mr Beef. Now. My first question is... How do you know Etho?

Beef would've bit his lip. He currently couldn't, so he pretended that he had. "I. I met him. By accident. A few weeks, a month or so ago."

That much is true, surprisingly. Next question...

The voice paused, as if deliberating.

... Why is it that you seek him?

"Because I care about him." The answer was instant. The words were easy, and Beef was proud of them.

'Care'? How much, exactly, for you to risk your life going into an enchanted forest alone?

"I care about him a lot. So if you'd be so kind as too-"

If that's how someone shows care, then I never want to feel it ever again.

... What?

You act as if you'd known Etho for years. That's the level of 'care' I'd deem understandable to do such a stupid thing.

... Stop it. Beef didn't like where the voice was going.

I wouldn't even expect such baseless recklessness from married couples, with the 'power of love', or something like that.

... The power of...

"Well, then maybe I do. Feel that. I mean. To. The person I care... About..." The barely-connected words burst forth before Beef could think to stop them. He thought he'd be flooded with mortified feelings...

Instead, a flashback replayed.

A flashback about a maybe-failed bet with Etho.

"... Then maybe I am in love with Etho..." Beef muttered, in slight disbelief himself. Though, reviewing the time he'd spent with the kind-hearted kitsune... He was surprised he hadn't seen it coming sooner.

... No you're not.

... Excuse me?

"... Excuse me?"

The voice huffed.

Let me ask you this, Mr Beef. Did you really love him?

"Yeah, I think I-"

OR. Did you forget that Etho, a kitsune, is a master of deception? Forever shrouded in mystery? You didn't even know the guy!

...

So, with that in mind... Did you really love him?

...

Or did you fall in love with the way the sun paints his shadows across the ground?

"... No..."

Did you fall in love with the wind that follows his fleeting trail?

"... No."

Did you fall in love with echoes of affection that stay when he's doesn't?

"... No!"

Did you fall in love with him, or did you fall for all the beautiful things you noticed about him?

Were you really in love with him, or just so caught up in your own-your own illusions of his beauty that you don't even know him at all?

"SHUT UP!" Beef screamed at the dark forest surrounding him, choking on his next words with the force he'd suddenly exploded with. He fell to the ground in a flurry of movement, coughing and blinking and stretching his sore muscles all at once.

The voice seemed stunned. This time, Beef wasn't prepared to let them get away with saying whatever they wanted. As his physical state recovered (ignoring the tiredness that was starting to really affect him), his mind continued running.

"He's kind. He's gentle. He's sweet."

"He likes comparing how his footprints don't disturb the snow, but mine do. He uses his agility over his strength because he dislikes physical fighting. He only fights if he must."

"He has a special liking towards the artic foxes that run about the forest."

"He's calm. Collected."

"His hair is as soft as it looks. His favourite kimonos are winter-themed ones. He feels the safest surrounded by his forest, or nearby, yet not interfering in, civilisation."

Beef tested his voice with a hum. It was good enough for what he wanted to say. The voice remained silent. Good.

"A... And even. Even if every single one of those things are... Are false... I-I still fell in love with him. Kitsune. And all."

To the voice, to the pitch black forest, and to Etho, he dedicated his words.

"That's something I know, without any more doubt, is true."

...

... Nice speech. Too bad it doesn't mean anything. Because he doesn't love you. So you should leave, Beef. I want you to leave me alone and never come back.

I hate you.

I hate you for coming into my land.

... You have no further requirement to be here.

———

Hello, cherished ladies and gentlemen! Welcome back to another exciting adventure on 'Tales of the Past!'.

You join us today in the newest episode of this month's season, where we will be discovering the secrets of the Japanese kitsune!

... I lied.

———

... Ding-ding!

The bell rung as someone made their way in. They'd ignored the 'Closed' sign in favour of simply waltzing in to escape the cold.

"Hello? Is anybody there? Sorry for barging in, I'll be out in a few ticks!"

What a peculiar place, they thought to themselves as they busied themselves with taking in the building they'd scurried into unannounced.

It must've been a music shop, judging by the obvious collocation of music discs adorning every possible flat surface, as far as the eye could see. A rather impressive collection, the traveller mused.

Poking around a tad more, they found a few very memorable albums hidden about the store. The shop owner surely wouldn't mind them looking around produce, right? It'd all be sold anyway...

Though, just as they lifted another more eye-catching disc (this one had a fox on the cover! How cute!), a piece of paper fluttered out from beneath, drifting to the floor.

The traveller picked it up without a second thought.

'I'll be counting all the stars,
One by one,
I'll never be far,
May the moon be my guide,
Across the cold night,
I swear I'll take flight
As long as I get to you.'

"Ooo... Is that a song lyric? Sounds pretty cool. Pretty cute." They nodded appreciatively. No one was there to reply.

With a few more minutes of wasting time, the traveller bid their goodbyes to the nonexistent owner of the music store, and the bell run again as the door shut.

The 'Closed' sign fell to the floor with a thud.

The string had snapped.

———

Breaking news! Reports of a body found in haunted forest!

Breaking news! Unidentifiable body dragged out of forest rumoured to house legends!

Breaking news! Dead man (—) found in forest, 'killed by monsters'?

Breaking news! John Doe found dead in forest!

Breaking news! Discovered dead, man in magical forest!

Breaking news! Horrifying mysterious death of unknown body!

Breaking news! Spirit seen with dead man?!

Breaking news! Fact or fiction?

Breaking news! Kitsune sighting?

Breaking news! Can kitsunes cry?

Breaking news! Disappearing image trick revealed!

Breaking news! John Doe's identity found by curious traveller?

Breaking ne-w S! M an f oUn dd d Ea D !

BXXf

FXXnd

XXXX

????

!

...

———

...

———

It was a nice day.

He almost didn't want to move. The sky was wonderful, the time of the year.

"... E-Excuse me, uh... Fox... Person? Are you de-uh, alright?"

Etho blinked. There was a shadowy outline standing above him, blocking the bright blue sky. A gentle expression faced his bemused eyes, displaying concern etched across features already burned into the back of Etho's mind.

They offered their hand.

Etho took it.

—————

Author's note:

This is was supposed to come out before Christmas, but knowing me, it probably wasn't-w-... Feel free to scold me about it ,:3!

Edit: I AM. SPEED.

Anyway, I hope chu guys enjoyed this lil one shot : D!!

... Yeah, did I confuse everyone X3? Apologies if so!

Oh right! And I'm talking right now to tell chu guys that there was actually supposed to be a few extra scenes in this one shot. I had a few ideas surrounding this concept ;3...

But... Due to not having enough time, already having probably way-too-many words, or simply not being able to find a space for them, some ideas had to be cut, unfortunately.

... That's not to say that I don't still have them though. So. If I get my act together (uhhhhhhh-)... Would chu like to read 'em ':3?

But! For now! I wish all of chu a wonderfully Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I love chu >w<!!