Midnight was approaching and it was under a fine and slightly annoying rain that Suzuka was now moving through the streets of Tokyo, the hood of her jacket raised to protect herself as much as possible, despite the cold that she could feel creeping under her clothes. With a katana hanging on her back, she did not fail to attract the attention of the few passers-by still outside, however they did not seem at all to notice the little white fox floating near her, this one even passing by through people like a ghost. According to the spirit's explanations, common mortals, therefore people who had not opened their minds to the existence of the other worlds, were incapable of seeing and hearing supernatural beings. Suzuka, however, avoided responding to the creature, not wanting to appear like a crazy person who talks to herself in front of people.

Suzuka continued to follow her little spiritual guide through the streets of the city center, avoiding as much as possible the deserted streets or dark alleys, ideal places to be ambushed by other abyssal entities. The young girl was starting to feel cold and to feel the weight of fatigue, not only physical but also psychological due to the many strong emotions she had experienced in recent hours. Seeing her like this, the white fox made sure no one was too close and spoke to Su.

_"At this rate, we won't survive. The darkspawn are much more active at nightfall."

_"I feel so weak... What is happening to me?" Suzuka moaned, struggling to keep her eyes open.

_"The death of your grandmother and your sudden awakening as a guardian without having been prepared for it took a huge toll on your energy." admitted the fox. "You must regain your strength in order to channel this new power. I know someone with whom we can spend the night safely. Follow me, it's not very far."

Suzuka was forced to see that the fox was telling the truth. She was cold, exhausted, hungry and above all with a broken heart. All she wanted was to be able to rest and also to gather her thoughts and take stock of the situation. So she agreed to follow the mystical white fox. It only took them a few minutes of further travel, gradually moving away from the main alleys to enter a discreet alley filled with small shops, small temples and traditional restaurants. While walking in this alley, Su could notice the few people who were on the thresholds of the few houses, the latter casting curious glances and sometimes following her with their gaze, which made her a little uncomfortable.

But above all, she noticed the rather abnormal presence of marble statues representing foxes, almost similar to those present in the sanctuary hidden in the park. Under the collar of her shirt, Su felt her fox talisman vibrate slightly, as if reacting to the presence of these statues. There was an almost mystical atmosphere in this alley where, visibly, the residents seemed able to see the white fox accompanying Suzuka but were not at all surprised or worried to see it.

_"What is this place?" Suzuka asked.

_"Kitsune Alley." replied the white fox. "To ordinary humans, it is a small, traditional shopping street like many others across the city, but it is in reality a shrine protected by the blessing of the Fox God. The darkspawn will not be able to to come and hunt us down here."

Although not yet accustomed to all these mystical and supernatural elements, Suzuka decided to trust her new friend, having no better options and not wanting to spend the entire night wandering outside in the rain and cold. She followed him to the threshold of a very modest house whose walls and door displayed a multitude of protections intended to repel evil spirits. Su didn't even have to knock before the front door opened in front of her. A man, in his forties, bald, unshaven, wearing a large, unbelted indoor kimono, looked at her neutrally and immediately turned his attention to the little white fox floating next to her.

_"I was expecting you earlier." the man said in a tired tone.

_"I'm happy to see you too, Ibuki." replied the fox. "There have been complications and we have to stay here tonight."

_"And she?" the man named Ibuki then asked, pointing to Suzuka. "I guess it's... one of the new guardians."

The fox confirmed with a nod of his head while Su remained a little more withdrawn, shy and also a little suspicious of this stranger. Ibuki looked at her for a moment, as if he were measuring her from bottom to top, then without saying another word stepped back and moved to the side, inviting the duo to come and stay dry at his place. Cold from the rain, Su entered with the fox. The pleasant warmth reigning in the house was more than welcome.

_"Take off your shoes and leave them at the entrance, I cleaned the floor this afternoon." Ibuki then indicated to Suzuka as he passed by her and headed towards the stairs.

_"Don't be intimidated by Ibuki. He may seem gruff but he is a helpful man." said the white fox to reassure the young girl.

Suzuka didn't speak, barely listening, but still took off her soaked shoes and jacket to leave them at the entrance and put on indoor slippers. Taking advantage of this gentle warmth, she timidly moved a little further into the house, observing the very traditional but very pretty decoration. Behind the house, she noticed that there was a sort of small Zen garden. A very appetizing smell of food floated in the air to Su's nostrils, who admitted that he was also a little hungry after so much emotion and even felt her stomach gurgling a little.

Ibuki then came back to her, holding a black kimono in his hands, as well as a white towel which he handed to her.

_"I ran a hot bath upstairs. Go ahead, it will help you relax a little." said the man, a little reserved but nevertheless kind. "You look like you've been through some very difficult things. In the meantime, I'm going to see where you can sleep."

_"I...thank you." Su replied shyly, bowing to thank him for his hospitality.

The little white fox nodded to Su, promising that she was safe here, and watched her go upstairs while Ibuki returned to the kitchen and put some slices of fresh fish to fry.

_"Those things that are chasing you... They're the Yokais, aren't they?" then said the confident man.

_"Yes. Onis more precisely. Servants of the Vulture God." replied the little white fox darkly.

At the mention of this god, Ibuki's gaze changed, going from neutral to darker, less sure of himself. He sighed, running his hand over his face as if he had just been told the worst news in the world, which was the case.

_"So he's really back... it's going to start again." Ibuki said.

_"Alas." the fox admitted, walking over to the kitchen table. "He sent three of his darkspawn to assassinate Suzuka tonight. They killed her grandmother right before her eyes."

Ibuki huffed softly, showing a sorry look for the girl and understanding what she must be going through currently. The little white fox, a little more detached from the emotions attached to humans, spoke again.

_"We are going to need your talents, Ibuki. If the first guardian has just revealed herself, it will not take long for the forces of darkness to locate the second and third. Whoever they are, these young girls are also in great danger. We must do everything to reunite the three chosen ones of the Fox, it is the only chance of survival of this world."

As one of the devout worshipers of the Fox God, Ibuki was well versed in the legend of the Chosen Ones and their significant impact on the history of this world, although it remained unknown or considered a mere myth to the vast majority of mortals. However, he couldn't stop a little doubt from lingering in his mind.

_"Are you sure that this Su will be up to the task?" asked the man. "She has just experienced a terrible tragedy that could break more than one person. We must be absolutely certain that she will be able to take on this role and assume all the consequences to come."

_"I'm sure of it. Keep your faith alive, Ibuki." said the fox with conviction. "Our master and creator has never been wrong. She is the one who will find the other chosen ones and will know how to lead them in the new fight against darkness."

Despite everything she had just experienced and still deeply affected by the events, Suzuka had managed to relax a little in the warm water of the bath that had prepared for her. But the warmth of a bath and the relative safety of a roof could not dispel the deep pain that the young girl continued to feel deep in her heart, in particular the sudden and brutal disappearance of her grandmother who was her only family for many years. But with the sadness also came the taste of bitterness, even anger, not only towards these infamous deformed entities who had killed his grandmother, but also anger towards oneself.

Her throat tight as she looked at herself in the small mirror attached to the bathroom wall, Su couldn't stop new tears from falling down her cheeks still bearing the dried traces of the previous ones. That overwhelming feeling was guilt.

_"I'm sorry..." Suzuka moaned in her sadness, feeling so helpless.

_"Your sadness is understandable, but guilt will do nothing more than consume you." then said the voice of the little white fox, the latter appearing in a swirl of white mist in the room.

_"Are you spying on me now?" Suzuka then said in a reserved and even annoyed manner while wiping the tears from her cheeks.

_"As a spirit, I am able to feel the emotions of the living, and you, my dear, are an open book. As the guide of the new guardians, it is my duty to ensure that feelings too powerful cannot disturb your destiny." the fox spirit admitted bluntly.

_"My destiny..." Suzuka then repeated in a rather ironic manner in the face of this fanciful, prophetic word. "So are things like this now? Do my life, my choices, no longer belong to me, because are they already written in advance? Was it my grandmother's destiny to die thus savagely murdered by monsters? Let me strongly doubt it."

_"It is mourning that makes you say these words, your mind is not clear and for that, you must take some rest, gather your strength." the white fox then replied. "There are forces that surpass us all and that even I cannot explain. The Vulture God is one of them, and you can believe me when I tell you that he will not cease until he has swallowed up all of creation. You and the other two guardians are the only ones able to oppose him, which is why you must find the other two girls before him and bring them to safety."

Su listened to him and felt the urge to tell him to shut up, to stop acting as if he had the answer to everything, but she changed her mind. Getting even angrier wouldn't change the current situation, she knew that. She then decided to cling to the idea of ​​saving these two unknown young girls from certain death. This is what her grandmother would have wanted, Su was sure of it. She nodded, agreeing to do it, but not for the white fox who was not offended.

After drying her hair and wearing a black kimono, Suzuka was led by the fox to a small room at the end of the corridor, in which Ibuki had just finished setting up a mattress with a pillow and a blanket. On a small stool in the corner of the room, she could see that Ibuki had gathered her clothes as well as her katana.

_"There you go. It's not the greatest luxury but at least you won't die of cold tonight." the man commented, scratching his chin.

_"Thank you." replied Su, who then turned to the fox. "So how do you hope I find the other two girls? There are thousands of kids in Tokyo alone. It might take forever."

_"With Ibuki, it will be much simpler." explained the fox. "He is the descendant of a long line of sorcerers. Thanks to your blood, he will be able to detect the presence of the other guardians."

_"My blood?" Su paled, anxious.

_"Don't be afraid, just a drop will do." Ibuki reassured her.

_"But how will my blood help?" Suzuka asked.

_"The three guardians share a unique bond, a bond that has survived through multiple reincarnations and has always allowed them to find each other. You are, so to speak, like sisters." said the white fox.

Clearly, Su understood less and less but tried not to think about it too much so as not to get a headache. A little reluctantly, she allowed Ibuki to prick her finger with a needle, making her wince slightly. He collected a drop of blood in a small glass bottle which he kept carefully for the rest of his ritual.

_"Okay, here we go for a long night." Ibuki said, cracking his neck. "Don't worry, I'll find them. In the meantime, try to get some sleep."

With these words, the man left the room and closed the door, followed by the white fox who decided to leave Suzuka in peace for that night. Now alone in the small, somewhat empty but nevertheless well-heated room, the young girl actually felt her body calling for sleep. She lay down under the blanket, her head resting on the pillow, and silently gazed at the ceiling thanks to the moon's rays filtering lightly through the curtains.

A thousand questions flew through Suzuka's mind, without being able to find the slightest answer. Everything was going so fast, way too fast. Curling up under the rather comfortable duvet, Su gently closed her eyes in the hope of finding some rest, knowing, deep down, that this improbable story had just begun.

************

While Suzuka had gone to sleep, Ibuki came to take a seat at the back of his house, in a room specifically reserved for his secret activities that he had inherited from his ancestors. Lighting incense sticks on a small altar decorated with a statuette of the Fox God. Once his prayer was addressed to the creator and protector divinity, Ibuki poured sacred water into a small container on the altar. After the water, he took a handful of dry jasmine leaves and dropped them into the water and let them float for a while.

Giving time for the purifying incense to permeate the room and thus chase away any trace of bad vibes that could disrupt the ritual, Ibuki poured the drop of Suzuka's blood into the container, watching it dilute and mix with the water. He mixed everything very slowly, while closing his eyes and began to say a few words in an unknown language. In front of him, the eyes of the Fox God statuette lit up slightly with a red glow.

With his eyes still closed, Ibuki began to discern something, receiving an increasingly precise vision of the purified water and the blood of the first guardian mixing. The jasmine leaves, dancing in the merry-go-round of fluids, gradually began to form figures, then, like... words? No, what looked more like two increasingly visible names...

_"Moa... Yui..." Ibuki mumbled between his lips, immersed in his ritual trance.