On a sunny afternoon a handful months later, the festival celebrating the new shrine's completion was in full swing. Laura and Gabe were tending to a stand together where they sold fried desserts from their home countries. And thank's to the news that Yo-tsu's former follower had nearly killed each other off for his position befroe disbanding had even allowed Laura to fully enjoy the atmosphere of it all.
The American was making donuts with nine tufts of blue icing on top to symbolize 'Kitsune-sama's' nine flames that kept her warm when fighting the evil ice demon.
The German on the other hand had machined a small metal plate to feature a nine tailed fox which she used to burn the image into the center of Auszogne.
Due to the fact Laura's model engine had been used to kill the giant, they were granted the privilege of setting up right next to the new shrine, which looked quite similar to many other shinto shrines except for the way it incorporated the undamaged panes of ballistic glass in its construction.
Their small stand was quite successful so far, although how much of that was due to the visitor's curiosity about the foreign dishes and how much to the position of it they weren't clear on.
Just having finished the next batch of fried foods, Laura spotted their next potential customer walking up, and elderly woman in a simple kimono with a fox mask tied to the side of her head.
"So in the end you killed off Yo-tsu anyways?" The woman said in a voice Laura recognized despite only hearing it once before. "Well I guess that entitles you to a reward doesn't it?" Onyu inquired with a hint of sarcasm in her voice before she walked behind the stand, the illusion of the old woman rippling away as she brought two fingers up to Laura's brow.
A moment later Laura had to look up from what seemed to be knee height to see Onyu holding a strip of paper between the two fingers, a vulpine muzzle obstructing part of her view.
"Seeing as you mastered your magic on your own so far, you won't need any advice in turning into a humanoid form a gain I am sure." Onyu taunted as she turned around to leave.
Watching the other Kitsune leave, Laura could suddenly tell that all but 9 tails behind the older spirit were just illusions. Wondering why one of them appeared half burned off, whatever Onyu had done to keep their interaction private vanished, prompting Gabe to look around shouting for Laura.
"Down here Gabe" the Kitsune replied, surprised that her voice still sounded exactly the same despite coming from a vulpine throat.
"Ah I assume this is new?" He just asked surprised.
"Yes, so you will need to man the stand alone from here on out. I need to find Takeko and get this sorted somehow." Laura said before running of, surprised how natural this new form felt to her.