Kira came too waking up in the shrine, she felt a bit off it was a mixture of feeling like you have overexhausted yourself and at the same time feeling you just got injected with pure caffeine straight into your veins.
It took Kira a bit to get her bearings enough to look around, she could easily hear and smell Yin still being outside the door, and anxiety?
How can you smell emotions? but something in Kira made her very aware that Yin was getting worried, getting up to head out Kira immediately spotted a ornate box laying on the ground beside her, remembering the last words Chaos had left her she decided to open the gift box and look at what was inside.
the first thing was a folded note, Kira grabbed and started reading.
"Dear Kira, congratulations on achieving something that nobody have ever done before, we both understand you will likely feel a bit worn out the next couple of days, be sure to eat and get plenty of rest!
with that out of the way
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
we couldn't decide if we wanted to go by the day of your initial ascension or when we managed to combine our seeds, but we decided that since it would be easier for us both to celebrate you at the same time did we simply decide that today is the day.
in the box will you find your birthday gifts, they all come from both of us with some help from someone I know named hephiestus.
they are all enchanted to help protect you, exactly what they do isn't relevant right now, and we hope it won't be any time soon either.
with that do we both wish you a happy birthday, please let us hear from you soon!"
Kira looked at the letter with both a surprise but also a bit of confusion, but ultimately letting the curiosity get to her she looked down into the box and first picked out a Hairpin, it was some of the finest jewelry she had ever seen in her life, the details was exquisite, it was themed around a fox motif along with stars and particles surrounding the fox theme.
Kira couldn't help but be reminded of Chaos hair along with the fox being a representation of Inari, never in her life had Kira ever gotten anything this pretty.
looking back in the box did she further find a necklace, and a bracelet all following the same theme, putting all of it on Kira felt extremely happy.
The box itself was however another matter, Kira decided to leave the box behind but took out the letter so nobody would find and read it, she felt incredibly torn, part of her told her she should burn it as to erase the evidence so nobody accidentally saw it, but it was the first letter of this kind she had ever gotten and as such it was precious to her.
ultimately did Kira let her emotions win, she folded the letter and took it with her out to greet Yin.
"Yin, you do realise that if I ever take this long is it OK for you to go do something else, especially sleep, I even fell asleep in there i deeply apologise for letting you wait"
#######
Yins perspective
###
Yin shook her head but upon properly seeing Kira she couldn't help but gasp, she couldn't describe it but Kiras silver fur had obtained a almost illusive kind of sparkle to it, to Yin it looked like thousands of tiny stars was sparkling and shimmering inside of Kiras fur, it was an absolutely breath taking sight.
Looking up and down Yin noticed the new Hairpin, and jewelery Kira was wearing, seeing it had the same theme of sparkling stars did Yin wonder if the items was magically enchanted to cause such a brilliance in Kiras fur, it was obvious that the gifts was from Inari given the fox motif, and why wouldn't she adorn her daughter with jewelry with such a wonderful enchantment, evening deserved to see how amazing Kira was so this was only appropriate.
"That Jewellery you're wearing, could it be Inari visited you while you were in the shrine?"
Kira looked down into the ground, in response Yin hoped that the question hadn't been offensive, it is never nice to be away from your parent regardless the reason
"She did indeed give me this Jewelery as a birthday present, but unfortunately was she not there with me, it was in a gift box beside me when I woke up after drifting off to sleep"
Yin beamed in delight, she figured Inari was busy but Inari had never been the one to make herself known more than once per decade or when something really urgent was coming up, but with Kira here was it almost like Inari was constantly finding excuses to make her presence known.
To Yin it only made sense, with the new Jewelery was Kira standing out even brighter, and you would have to be a fool to not accept subservience to her, Yins chest couldn't help but swell with pride.
###
Kiras perspective:
###
Well ofcourse would her Jewelery stand out, It was the prettiest thing she had ever seen or owned but Yins eyes had gone huge as saucers and mouth gaping when seeing her, wasn't that just a bit much?
maybe getting a gift from Inari was just that special, Kira politely decided to not mention anything about Chaos as it seemed like they would rather not that information being out in the open.
"Mom, could it be Yins reaction is because I'm no longer locking away my divine energy, also isn't that kind of a bad idea to have out in the open ?"
"Nonsense my dear, besides the necklace is enchanted in a way that nobody can sense your energy from afar unless you desire it, ofcourse does your physical appearance still show your divine traits but one wouldn't know to relate that without enough information or power that the enchantment wouldn't hold up anyway"
Kira remembered back to first time she ever saw Inari, and remembered how she almost had a special type of glow to her, same with Chaos although different was the strongest difference how her hair had been almost looking into a void with billions of shimmering stars in it.
A small part of her was glad that she had taken after Inari as that glow while it gave an other worldly feel was it still just a tiny bit less in your face about it, then again to her old world Inari would likely stand more out due to the fox traits but who knows.
"So Yin, what are plans for now?"
Yin shook herself out of the daze she seemed to have found herself in and answered.
"You were in the Shrine for a lot longer than I had expected and I had to ask for someone to bring me food, Shino heard that and requested that we would stop by her office before continuing the exploration"
that was when it hit Kira.
"Yin? when was last time that you slept?"
Yin immediately started mumbling excuses in reply, but Kira wouldn't let her.
"I'll try again, when was last time you properly slept"
looking down Yin finally replied.
"2 days ago my lady"
Kira internally groaned at the honorific, but decided to drop it for now.
"Ok let's do it like this then we will stop by Shinos office as you promised her and afterward will we be heading straight for our room so you can catch some sleep!"
Yin started to protest but Kira gave her a look that told her that no discussions was to be had on the subject, so Yin obliged and started leading them back towards Inaris office.
Inaris office happened to be in the same building that was housing a majority of the Cubs during day time as they mostly needed easy access to contact her and she would regularly come out to check on their progress if one of the other Kitsune wasn't in the middle of teaching.
going into the temple like building, they met the first male kitsune Kira had seen up close.
"I would really appreciate if my classes didn't get disturbed, I know you're ahead of the curriculum miss Yin but that doesn't mean you....."
The teachers face fell on Kira and his eyes went as wide as saucers.
"My deepest apology I wasn't aware your esteemed self would honor us with your presence, my name is Shinji please let me know if there is anything at all I can do for you"
Kira couldn't help but be slightly confused, her mom had said that her divine energy should have been hidden by the necklace, so why was he reacting like that, maybe my hair color or rather I guess the color of my fur Kira corrected herself mentally.
"Excuse me Mr. Shinji, my name is Kira I had been requested to see Ms. Shino at the earliest opportunity I had, it was not my intention to disturb your class and for that I apologise"
The poor man paled and immediately countered.
"No Ofcouese not, it is not often we get anyone who ascended visiting, and I've honestly never in my life seen your particular color or that kind of shine before, but I can only assume that would put you above even lady Shino, please forgive my earlier disrespect"
Kira sighed looked towards the kids who mostly just gave her curious glares, atleast they didn't seem to be obsessed with appearance, leaving the teacher behind so he could continue his class Kira headed towards Shinos office and closed the door, wall?... honestly Kira didn't even know what to call it.
stepping into the office Kira found Shino at a desk filled with parchments of different kinds, if seems even this world have the horror of office work.
"Excuse me miss Shino, you requested to see me ?"
Shino glanced up from her papers but upon her sight hitting Kira she jumped up in clumsy motion causing the stacks of neatly piled papers to topple over, Shino immediately went in front of Kira and kneeled.
"Your new jewelery suits you my lady, but....
Chaos, why was that hidden from me?"
Kiras mind blanked out completely, what the fuck?
No give me a second here, here, my divine energy should be hidden, did someone sneak in and read her letter before she woke up?
nah, she doubted it.
"Would you per chance accept if I claimed I didn't know what you're talking about?"
Shinos eyes flickered with an intensity that almost seemed scary.
"It is my duty to know all of Lady Inaris enemies and allies, you don't think I would miss the traits of the person Inari spent close to a millennia with?"
Yins eyes had grown wider and wider during the conversation.
"If I may interrupt, what does Lady Shino mean by Chaos?"
To this Shino got an almost evil smile
"Little Yin are you perhaps telling me that Kira haven't informed you of the other very obvious part of her heritage?"
Yin looked doubtful and unsure for a moment but replied
"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about"
but before Shino could continue to make Yin feel bad Kira interrupted "Enough!"
And this time both Shino and Yin bent their knee, and looked down.
really.... Kira groaned internally, why do they insist on this stupid.... Kira put herself in check before she would start to do an internal rant.
"Shino, you didn't know either before right of this moment, I'm still honestly not sure how you can tell but it is probably something obvious, I'm not afraid to admit how long it took me to notice the own color of my fur"
Kira was keeping quiet about the fact she hadn't quite noticed the fur or the fact she was a fox in the first place, but she figured it was probably better to gloss over that fact.
"Yin she is referring to the fact that I don't just have the heritage of Inari, while Inari is my mom and the primary part of my heritage do I also share the heritage of what you can consider my aunt, who is another diety known by the name Chaos
This is the first time anyone shares the heritage of 2 separate deities, and that is one of the main reasons it's so important that it doesn't become known, but you immediately blurting it out even though you would likely have been the only one here capable of even making that connection, I would ask this remains a secret"
Shino had lost all of her prior smirk while still looking down replied
"I'm deeply sorry Lady Kira I should have put logic first and realised why you and Inari had kept quiet about it, I also now think I understand why exactly it is so important to not let anyone know of your true nature anytime soon"
Kira simply shrugged.
"Now would both of you please stop that sharede if I released power while yelling I apologies but please get up and stop that silly Lady thing, and stop kneeling and bowing and all that stuff... please?"
Yin ans Shino looked at each other and both got back up and dusted off their clothes while looking slightly awkward.
"Oh yeah the teacher dude outside thought I was an ascended with a higher rank than you, it wasn't exactly as incognito as I had desired, but he didn't seem to make the connection with Inari so I believe that it is likely better to just run with whatever story or reasoning he made up in his head, feel free to call me a representative or something but I would honestly like to enroll in classes, there is a lot of common knowledge I'm lacking and I figured it could be a nice change"
Shino nodded her head "I'll make it happen, please come back tomorrow and I will have ensured a spot for you in the class, as I simply let him know you desire to observe are you ofcourse free to attend as you desire"
Kira nodded her head in appreciation.
"Thank you, Yin have not gotten any sleep for a while so I will be heading back to our place and allow her to get a bit of sleep, I apologise for keeping it short"
Shino gave a slight bow as Kira left the office and did her best to not roll her eyes, it was starting to get more frustrating than awkward at this point, back in the classroom Shinji noticed Kira and gave a bow
"I hope Lady Kira achieved what she came to do and had a pleasant talk with Lady Shino"
Kira couldn't help but internally cringe and was rather grateful he had no clue what had actually happened.
"Indeed Mr. Shinji, I also requested being allowed to observe some of your classes and assume Shino will discuss this matter with you after class, but I will go ahead and say thank you for having me and I will be seeing you tomorrow"
Shinji visibly blanched.
"It will very much be my pleasure, but why would an ascended wish to attend my humble class aimed at the cubs"
Kira noted that Shinji made a visible distinction between her and the cubs even though her physical appearance didn't seem, that much older than them, apparently power is valued above everything else here.
"It won't be a problem Mr. Shinji you can say I simply wish to expand my horizons and see first hand what is being taught here, I hope that won't be a problem?"
It atleast to Kira seemed like Shinji had relaxed a bit.
"Not at all Lady Kira, thank you for providing me this honor"
Kira gave a courtesy and moved out of the class, towards their private place, god why is everyone here emulating etiquette aimed at royalty and nobles in the 1800s its exasperating, can't people just chill, Kira was quickly realising that She enjoyed her interaction with Chaos and Inari more than she had enjoyed interacting with anyone here so far, only the kid who woke her up had acted "normal" Not that Kira really had any desire to be treated like a kid either.
arriving at their chamber, Yin upon Kiras command had gone straight to bed and fell almost immediately asleep, Kira similarly laid down as she still felt extremely physically exhausted and followed along shortly after.