Violet got nervous upon hearing Head Fox Chief Chou's words. This is it. She is so done for. But when Violet took a closer look at Chief Chou, she noticed that he is wearing an embarrassed smile. She, then, looked towards where he is looking.
A bunch of female kitsunes, at least fourteen or more of them, are standing near them and are trying to look seductive. Actually, they don't need to try. With their perfect body proportions, beautiful face and skin features, and sexy, fitted-looking outfits, it is obvious that any male, whether spirit or not, would immediately fall for them.
The question is, who are they trying to seduce?
"You are not safe in here once those female kitsunes find out that Renji brought a female," Chief Chou said. "They'll get jealous."
Violet huffed. Those females don't have to be jealous of anything, most importantly of her. They can fall at this Renji's feet and die and she wouldn't have a single care in the world.
"You okay?" Renji suddenly asked.
Violet turned to Renji sharply and answered, "Yeah! Why wouldn't I be?!"
"No need to be so angry and jealous at them, sweetheart. You're still far more beautiful," Renji said and added a flirtatious wink.
Violet tried her best to show off a disgusted face, "Ew. I am not angry or jealous. What's there to be angry and jealous of? Besides," Violet flipped her hair. "I already know that I am far more beautiful. I am Violet Berseashore, after all. I am a princess by all means!"
"Well, she got that clear," Chief Chou said. "Let's get going then. Both of you, follow me."
Violet followed the fox chief towards the village, leaving a smiling Renji up on the hill where they the both of them ended up with the tree after passing its portal. Renji stayed silent as she looked at the girl walking down the hill, looking both wary and curious at her new surroundings.
"A princess," Renji smiled. "You're right, my princess."
Then slowly, he ascended the hill, her eyes fixated on her and hers alone. This has not escaped the eyes of the female kitsunes who now gave the young, human girl jealous glares.
"She's obviously nothing compared to a kitsune's beauty," said one female. "Female kitsunes are known to be the one of the most beautiful female spirits!"
One female spirit huffed and showed off her kitsunebi, a flame made by kistunes, "She'd be much more easy on my eyes if she is already toasted on my kitsunebi."
A bigger flame suddenly came up to that female. The female squeaked as her fearful gaze locked on Renji's dangerous ones. With a sinister smile, he said, "Harm her, even just a single strand of her hair, and I am sure that you will be the ugliest kitsune in the clan, Renatta."
Renatta got afraid in an instant puts down her kitsunebi, "Geez. I was just kidding, Renji. Why are you so protective at that girl? She's not even one of us!"
"Last time I checked, it is none of your business," Renji answered as he puts down his flame and keeps up with Violet and her uncle.
Meanwhile, Violet is looking around the village as if she is inside some sort of new mall in the city. She takes in of everything and makes sure that every detail is in her head.
"Just wait until I tell Grandpa," she whispered. "This place looks so amazing."
Even though that is just a whisper, Chief Chou heard it loud and clear. Kitsunes seem to have very good sense of hearing.
"I'm happy that you think our clan is amazing," Chief Chou said. "How is your grandfather, the human representative?"
"He's doing all well," Violet replied.
"Yeah," Renji butted in. "Based on my observations, it is to her grandfather that Violet shows decency and kindness only." Then he let out a laugh.
Violet smiled sarcastically at Renji. "If I wouldn't have been so kind to you, I would have left you alone in the forest already after you took my phone."
"Are you saying that you would rather risk yourself on getting lost than having someone as charming as me to have your back?" Renji asked playfully.
"I would rather eat fire than be with you, actually," Violet said.
"You sure about that?" Renji asked. Then, he raised his right palm and let out a kitsunebi. "Because I have fire right here. Fox fire, to be exact. You can eat it right now, if you want. Although, I think it would kill you."
"Tch. Leave me be," Violet said in defeat and walked twice as faster.
"No can do, princess," Renji said in all honesty.
Instead of worrying more about how she is going to survive around Renji, Violet spent the rest of the walk wandering her eyes around the clan as the three of them arrived to their destination: a house made of rock that feels different among the rest.
The house is made of stone, like the rest of the houses in the clan. But this one seems to be different because there are no houses around it. The other houses are built near each other, but this one is built farther from the rest. It seems like whoever is living inside this house is more special and important than the rest of the kitsunes. And actually, it is true.
"The one who lives on this house is the second most important fox in the clan," Chief Chou explained to Violet. "He's got the power to see the past using his kitsunebi, his fox flame. It is an unlikely ability for a kitsune."
"Because of that, he is the top suggestion as the next spirit representative," Renji added, standing behind Violet. "No one can do that. Not even in the past. He is the first in the fox clan to have this ability. He is being kept as a secret, especially from the other clans. We don't want someone as special as him to be taken away."
"No one can get in the clan, anyway. Not without another kitsune helping the enemy to get inside," Violet said. "You said so yourself. A non-kitsune can't get in, unless a kitsune helps."
"Us kitsunes gets out of the clan every now and then for some reasons. Some are to hunt, others are spies to other clans, and one," Renji flashed Violet a look she couldn't pinpoint what the meaning is. "Is keeping a certain someone safe," Renji continued. "When we get out, we don't want to be ambushed and threatened to help them get in."
"You sure have a point there," Violet nodded.
"He lives here in this house alone and rarely gets out. He should be here right now," Chief Chou said.