The Secrets of 100 and the Snow Rabbit

No need to worry? Why?

After hearing those words, Kurama did not relax his expression; he only narrowed his brows even more. He certainly believed the Count would never deceive him or hurt him. If the Count said there was nothing to worry about, then he must have his reasons. Yet from all the information Kurama currently possessed, he truly could not infer what lay behind them, so after a brief frown he lifted his eyes again and fixed his puzzled gaze on the black-haired beauty across from him.

“Why does the Count believe that? If you can, can you tell me the reason?”

The Count, who had been quietly waiting for his reaction, gave a slight smile.
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” he said. “You’ll hear it sooner or later. Even if I don’t tell you today, word should come from Yuko’s side before long.”

Kurama’s expression shifted.
“From Miss Yuko?”

Because their search had long yielded no progress despite extensive study and many inquiries, Kurama and Yuko had not been in touch as frequently as when Kurama first arrived in this world. Even after the last cutoff, the kitsune only later realized, to his regret, that he had once again forgotten to use the Philosopher’s Stone he had taken from the Steel-forged world to restore his fox power. He had become so absorbed in studying the matter of Creation-God Mokona.

Gradually their contacts stretched farther apart in time, though each conversation grew longer. One was the unmatched strongest in this dimension after Kuro Rito’s fall, the legendary Dimensional Witch; the other was a kitsune growing stronger with each crossing of worlds and time, gradually carrying an odd, hard-to-name aura. Yet their joint investigation into Creation-God Mokona still could not gain even a tiny bit of progress. So Kurama found the Count’s firm certainty in this matter somewhat surprising.

The Count did not seem to find Kurama’s doubt strange.
“With Yuko’s ability, it really has been slower than usual.”

He lifted a slender finger and nodded at his own pale cheek; even for someone with such an elegant disposition, that almost coquettish gesture looked natural, even graceful.
“But there is something blocking her, and not just any obstruction. So the fact that she has made any progress recently is already quite remarkable, isn’t it?”

—Praising Yuko and excusing her at once, the Count murmured.
Before Kurama could ask more, he quickly continued.

“Before all that, Yuko would have noticed these things much sooner. But you know something of her current state, don’t you? She has become someone beyond the Star-World now. So even deliberate changes and concealments made by higher entities in that world’s law are harder for her to detect, especially since she has crossed beyond.”

“Even though… she is a Dimensional Witch.”

One could see that the Count’s true relationship with Yuko was very real. The soft look he wore when speaking of her was the same as when Kurama had seen him in the pet shop, handling the animals he adored. Yet the words from that gentle countenance carried a faint sadness.

In the hidden depth of those words, Kurama could not help but suspect—quietly and with unease—that perhaps everything he and Yuko had done and would do had already been predicted by that being.
The astonishment and alertness that flashed across his eyes did not escape the Count.

Seeing that his explanation had perhaps backfired, he sighed helplessly.
“Wait, Kurama—don’t rush to sinister conclusions!”

He straightened up and, his unusual eyes full of earnestness, resumed in a firm, explanatory tone:
“That being indeed foresaw your arrival, the bond that arose between you and Yuko, and even this whole stretch of travel.”

“Even more, even the hidden meaning of this journey that you keep pondering He also understood.”

Forcing down the urge to pounce forward and comfort him, the Count lowered his lids and kept himself in the role of a composed explainer:

“By now, you’ve likely sensed this yourself. Yuko seems to have some faint awareness too.”

“But clearly she does not understand it as deeply or clearly as that being does. So she may only know one direction, and for some reason she hopes for that as well.”

“I do not know the exact details. I only know this because, in one of my encounters with that being, He entrusted this to me—that on some future day—what I now understand to be this very moment—he would have me explain this to you at the right time.”

“That being has no malicious intent toward you. The worlds you crossed through on your journey were all guided by His hand. To say the least, their arrangement was the result of fate and coincidence acting together.”

“All you need to know is that you need not worry about it. It will not affect your destination, and it will bring no harm to you or those you cherish. Just remember that.”

“Kurama, trust me. This is truly not something for you to worry about or defend against.”

The Count sounded utterly sincere.
Although Kurama remained with some doubts, he was, as the Count hoped, utterly at peace again.

“Mm, I understand.”
He nodded with a smile.
“Thank you, Count.”

“……”
The Count then fell silent.

At that moment Kurama wondered whether he had somehow responded wrongly and made the Count uncomfortable again, when suddenly the handsome black-haired beauty who had once seemed like a noble from an old painted scroll, with his regal and elegant posture, leapt suddenly like a hunter upon prey—no demure maiden at all—and pounced straight at him.

“Ahh~ Kurama, why can you smile so beautifully? That’s cheating! Come to my shop! If you come, I’ll do anything!”

He wrapped himself around the kitsune, tugging at his collar and rubbing against him dreamily.
Kurama could only look as if he laughed and sighed at once.

“I’m not just a simple little animal anymore…”
He muttered helplessly.

The youth in fox form, however, was entirely caught in the kitsune aura radiating from him at every movement, and the Count clearly heard no argument.

Kurama could only give a wry smile, wave toward the panda maids at the door, and ask them to tidy the room and prepare dinner.
From his demeanor, Kurama realized: tonight the Count had clearly decided to stay over.

***

Fortunately, the Count regained his composure shortly afterward, or Kurama truly would not have known what to do with him.

Under the panda maids’ capable hands, they shared a rich and delicious dinner. Afterwards, in Kurama’s room, with little sweets and perfectly balanced plum wine, they chatted all the way until midnight. Their talk ranged over their experiences in different worlds, and over a few small changes in the world of tutoring since Kurama left. As the night grew late, their talk did not diminish at all. At last, even Mokona, who rarely scolds, made a rare serious fuss and sent them both off to sleep.

The next morning, although the Count showed obvious reluctance to part from Kurama, he reminded himself that in the pet shop back home, everyone—animals included—was still waiting for him. Though he had called in the night, being away all night would still have frightened the household. So he reluctantly waved goodbye and told Kurama they would meet again to “bother” him every few days, then went with the kitsune toward the station.

For Kurama, the Count’s visit was a pleasure. He did, however, refrain from taking kitsune form while escorting him, so that townspeople would know the Count was his friend when they saw him off; this made the Count a little wistful.
But since the kitsune had said he would remain in this world for quite a long while, the Count quickly brightened and began discussing their latest delicious desserts with Mokona.

By the time Kurama finally saw him off, it was near noon.
He and Mokona strolled home lazily, and only when they passed the gate of the neighboring Fujihara house did he suddenly stop.

In the Fujihara yard, a stranger he had never seen before was calmly sweeping the grounds, holding a broom absent-mindedly.

Of course, if an unfamiliar person simply appeared in a neighbor’s yard and did housework, Kurama would not have felt anything odd. Every household has relatives or friends who stay over now and then.
But the youth’s entirely ill-fitting kimono and the pair of rabbit ears on his head—looking less like ornaments and more like the real thing—signaled that he was no ordinary person.

So Kurama halted.

“Are you… the snow rabbit from yesterday?”

Only after a moment’s hesitation did the youth, who had been deep in thought, answer.
He paused his sweeping and looked up cautiously. Seeing Kurama’s face, he blinked in surprise, then gave an expression of dawning recognition.

“Ah… are you… the friend of Natsume-sama from yesterday?”

Kurama nodded. “Yes. I’m a friend of Natsume.”

Seeing that the youth still seemed uneasy, he smiled gently.
“Don’t be so tense. I’m not human like Natsume.”

“…Huh?”
The rabbit-eared youth, blinking in confusion, asked, “You… are you not human?”

But he could feel no yokai or divine aura from him; in scent, too, he truly seemed just human.
Kurama found that innocent look rather endearing and felt himself in a more cheerful mood.

“It’s probably like the cat beside Natsume. Unless he moves, no one notices anything odd about the aura.”

Only, the cat is sealed. A fox spirit has a human template built in by nature, and without changing form one usually notices no irregularity.”

The youth nodded politely with lingering curiosity.
“I see. Then you must be a powerful great spirit too. Natsume-sama is impressive; his companions are all like that…”
A smile of faint sadness and quiet resolve appeared on his face.
“It seems it was right to come to Natsume-sama, doesn’t it?”

“Mm? You have something you want Natsume-sama to help with?”

Natsume’s Book of Friends is warm and healing indeed, but because its plot mostly consists of one little story after another, Kurama’s memory of the rest is rather blurred except for the few unforgettable moments and some major arc events.
So although the rabbit-eared youth should be a recognizable character, he still could not place it.

He did not know whether this was already in the original story, or whether it was happening in this real Natsume world despite not appearing in the canon.
After considering for a moment, Kurama cast a barrier to block ordinary eyes and stepped into the yard, coming to stand before the youth.

“If you can, could you tell me your story?”

Author’s note: Kurama’s nonstop crossing of worlds is not only to find his way home; it carries other meanings as well.
From the Count’s explanation, you can tell it is not the kind of grand conspiracy arc either. The author confesses that he cannot stomach writing a huge conspiracy or cruelty-heavy saga with his current brainpower, so everyone can truly relax. Wait, this self-deprecating rhythm—what is this?

So, having solved one worry, the Kitsune Lord is in a good mood and has time now to pay attention to the little story unfolding around Natsume. This snow rabbit still has more lines to play, so it doesn’t matter if you don’t know his place in Natsume’s canon.

The bonus image for this chapter is the long-awaited majestic kitsune.
So handsome, so beautiful— I want to marry him, I want to marry him, I want to marry him! A silent, adoring face!

And as always, the usual preview for next chapter: “A New Encounter.”
What trouble has the snow-rabbit youth brought to Natsume, and what role will the Kitsune play in this story?
The troubles over Creation-God Mokona come to a pause, and once Kurama can settle his mind for just a little while, he must face—another new meeting and a surprise that startles him.

Look forward to the next chapter, “Kitsune Kurama”: A New Encounter!

Rolling onward and keep writing and posting, please—my dear fox is gentle and easy to raise.