She yawned and stretched while the morning sun warmed her skin. This new land was freaking cold. She shivered and shuddered softly. Kira held her arms after she dressed for the day's adventure to the capital of the Kitsune city.

To be honest, she was weary of it. The last few places she'd visited were less than nice, to say the least. Dogs hated cats, that was a fun city to visit.... Dragons were far too protective of their own kind. She'd almost lost her head there. Such barbaric creatures.
The pixies treated her well enough... Until they attempted to harvest her tail and ears as charms ... That was a place she would not be going back to. No matter how beautiful it was.

This cold, though...

It was a new feeling all together. Snow-capped mountains, soft fresh coats of powdery snow littered the ground, and most creatures here were white or silver. It was a beautiful place, but so cold.

Honestly, Kira had never been in such cold climates. Her little Neko village was from a tropical environment. The sun was always shining, the ocean could always be heard ( Though, none of them ever bothered going in it.), The temperature was always above sixty degrees, the sky was painted beautiful brilliant blue during the day, a warm spread of yellows and oranges and pinks at night sunset.. She sighed softly. Kira almost felt homesick.

Almost.

" Right... It's time to get moving. I have to find some warm fucking clothes, and start my research here. Maybe... Just maybe they won't hate me like everyone else seems to..." She muttered as she packed her tent and essentials into her large back pack.

The wind picked up, and she shivered again. She'd walked from a literal valcanoe into a damn freezer. The hike was tiring, and as much as she would love to sleep more, she would freeze to death if she did so in such minimal clothing.

Her fluffy tail only kept her so warm at night. Kira was a neko. She longed for warmth, soft beds, cuddles.... " Tough shit Kira. Your stuck with a rickety old tent with burn holes, shorts, and a tank top. Find some clothes..." She huffed. " And keep your hair up. Hide your ears for a while. " She added.

Her hair was fairly long, at least down to her hips, so it was perfect for hiding the fact that she didn't belong. Her tail could be used as a belt, and she wound it around her waist. Over all she looked like a mysterious traveler. Just what the brunette was hoping for.

Most people in the city has white or silvery hair. Some had blonde. She stuck out like a sore thumb. Not to mention they were all so beautiful. Kitsune really had all the looks. She sighed.

Her sapphire eyes kept a look out on all side for any trouble. She didn't trust people not to try to capture her or try to. She was a sneaky kitty. All of the nekos in her village were very well trained. In a way they were like the ninja of the world. They could do almost anything they had to to compete with other attackers, and they defended themselves well.

There were certain times however when they did not have the advantage. For instance, the females heats or males ruts. Their mating periods sucked, and could be literally anytime. It was unpredictable. If a female smelled a male rutting they could easily go into heat. You just had to be careful. Not to mention the males would go feral, and try to mate with whoever whenever they smelled them.

They were brutes.

She was glad she'd only had the misfortune of having to go through it once. Luckily for her, she escaped that encounter with the upper hand. Nothing had happened. Thankfully, he hadn't been able to finish his work before she escaped.

Another example would be happening to the poor girl very soon as she wandered into the capital.

~~~~

Kane Levaughn sighed softly. He walked through the streets, helping his people, talking with them, and trying to be there. Trying to be someone they relied on. Just like he used to be before, all he did was sit inside the castle on a throne.

It was boring.

His fiery ruby eyes watched his people, and a small smile creeped onto his face.

" Better start walking again. Wouldn't want too many people to start crowding you now, would you?" His cheeky friend said.

" Shut up, Ozul. I'm going. " He chuckled.

Ozul was Kane's second in command. He was a trusted Kitsune. Stealth was his middle name. He was notoriously tricky to get away from and loved to try setting Kane up with different people to try to find his mate. He had been his second while they were over the army as well.

Before the king...

" Stop! Theif! Stop them!"

Kane's head shot up towards the sound of the cry for help. " About time I can do something. " He muttered with a smirk.

It was unfortunate for Kira. No one wanted to sell her anything. They stared at her like she was a plague. Then suddenly, a random cloaked theif bumped into her. He cackled as he did, knowing full well that the people would turn on her rather than himself. She was an outsider. In their eyes, far more likely to steak than himself.

This thief got away that day. He stole an emerald necklace. That was it.

Kira stood up, and a crowd started to form around her. Her hair fell down around her, and her tail fluffed out while she righted herself. She was met with looks of accusation. People started to shout at her, and so she did what any frightened cat would do. She took off.

Kira ran over the tops of people, using them as stepping stones to get out of the crowd. She had to get away, or she was finished. Suddenly, someone grabbed her around her waist and tackled her to the ground. Both of them went tumbling, and she fought her captor. Kira scratched him and went to kick him in the family jewels.

She had a good kick, and the man seemed to be fairly impressed with it. Nonetheless, he caught her foot and swooped her right over his shoulder in the process.

She squealed and hissed at him accidentally. " Put me down! I'm innocent!"

" Innocent my ass! " An elder man shouted.

The shop owner was even in the crowd jeering at her.

"W-what?! No! I didn't do anything!" She swung her legs down towards the tall man's jewels once again in attempts to get down and away.

" Quiet! I will judge her fairly! " Kane spoke with absolute command.
He sat her down but kept a strong harsh grip on her arm. It would surely bruise, but it was nothing compared to her previous scratches.

" Now, if you are innocent, why are you running?" He asked skeptically.

" What is it to you?" She shouted up at him. She glared and crossed her arms. " If you must know, I was walking through this crappy town when someone runs into be, plows me to the ground, cackles at me, and runs off. Then I'm surrounded by angry foxes, accused of something I didn't do, and manhandled!"

" Right. And I'm supposed to believe that? Outsider?" He asked with a raised brow.

" Fine then! If you don't want to believe me, go ahead and search me! Right here! In front of them all! I have nothing to hide. " She huffed in frustration. She didn't want to be stripped in front of everyone in the market, but if it proved her innocence, what choice did she really have? Still, she didn't show any fear.

Her eyes were clear as pools of frozen crystal water. Kane found himself reminded of the past a little. She was... Interesting. A criminal wouldn't allow such a search.

Nor would a proper lady, but that wasn't the issue at hand.

The girl before him wasn't the least bit elegant. She was small and looked like she'd come from a beach rather than anywhere near here. Was she an islander cat? Why would an island creature be here in the mountains?

His gaze was pulled to the crowd once more. They were getting restless, in need of a verdict. They clearly wanted to see this girl punished and possibly used. Which he was certainly not a fan of. As much as he didn't want the filthy cat near him, Kane didn't have it in him to let them ruin her, or press her to death by stoning, and use her beforehand .. It was a violent death, but the punishment most Kitsune who stole faced.

" This girl is clearly not from around. She isn't a Kitsune. Therefore, your punishment is not eligible for her. Plus, the matter of the robbery still needs to be looked into. So I, your king, will take her back with me and further investigate the matters at hand. " He spoke after debating.

Kira tilted her head and quirked a brow. " You'll what?" She asked, or rather spat.

He leaned in close, grabbed her, and threw her back over his shoulder. " Unless you'd rather be pressed to death by heavy stones, or worse used as their personal toy before hand, shut up. " He muttered as he gave Ozul a slight nod towards the castle.

Ozul followed behind them from a distance. He took care of requests and watched as his friend carried the girl. It didn't slip past him. No, he saw everything. Kane never carried people. Especially females. It was almost as if he was allergic to them. He also didn't miss how his grip tightened or how her face flushed when Kane spoke. He grinned as he caught up to them after leaving the city.

" Ohh... Someone said something embarrassing?" He asked the girl. He didn't feel she was a thief. Which meant he had some security details to work out. The actual thief would be found, and when he was, it would not be pretty. He'd broken several laws. The most important thing is that he framed an innocent.

The girl crossed her arms and sort of leaned up to be met with another pretty fox. His hazel eyes bored into her soul. Searching. She blinked. " No.. not really? "

" You don't sound so sure of that. " He chuckled a little. " Kane, what'd you say to her??" He poked at Kane.

" Nothing! I told her to stop squirming, or everyone on the road would see up her shorts. " He huffed, though his cheeks flushed slightly from Ozul trying to embarrass him.

" Ohh~ I mean yes, but no.. they fit her well, so that was a bluff. It's because her butt happens to be next to your face, isn't it?" He asked point blank.

This caused the poor cat to uncross her arms, cover her cheeks, and just go still on Kane's shoulder. " Ugh... Kill me now. "

" I can take you back..." He offered.

" No thanks. This is better. " She sighed. This was great. This morning, she was free, wondering around looking for clues about her father, and now she was captive to a Kitsune. " Wait... Oh crap! Are you the kitsune king??!"

" You're rather slow, aren't you?" Kane asked with a smirk.

" Shut up, canine. I'm not slow..." She pouted, glancing lazily at the back of his head. " I can walk to..."

" And run? No. I'm not taking that chance. Sorry, I'll carry you. "

Ozul smirked as he listened and watched. This girl.. she was intriguing. " What is your purpose here, Mrs..?"

" Miss. And Kira. " She said softly.

" Ahh.. So you're either a light for the people or a killer. " He teased.

" Ozul.. stop talking nonsense. " Kane snapped.

" To answer your question, " She swatted Kane in the face with her very fluffy tail as she talked to Ozul.

Several times.

On purpose.

" In my village were all raised to fight, and fight well. Martial arts. We're taught to fend off people invading our homes and such. "

" Apparantly not well enough to not be caught by a fox..." Kane muttered and received a swift slap to the face by her tail. " One more time, and I'll cut it off or skin it. " He threatened.

" One more time, what?" She asked, feigning innocence with a playful wink to Ozul.

Ozul knew then what she should be. Even if he couldn't convince his friend to have her as a bride, he could possibly convince him to keep her as a consort, surely. She was light and playful. A much needed change for his stressed and overworked friend. " Yes, what is she doing to upset you, My King?" He asked, returning her playful wink with a sly grin.

Kira shuddered. His grin almost looked creepy.

~~~~~~

The sun was starting to set, and Kira was starting to shiver again. She rubbed her arms and tried her best not to cuddle into the heat of the king carrying her. Foxes put out serious heat... She whined, " How far away are we from your castle?? It's taken us all day to get here..."

" It's takes about three hours. Just about a quarter of the day, Miss Kira. " Ozul answered. " You caused a scene in the market, and it made the walk seem longer surely. "

" I caused it? I wasn't the one running away from apparent death..." She shrugged.

He chuckled. " We have arrived. "

Kane sat her down carelessly and walked on towards the castle. " Wash in the river. You are filthy, and I don't want the stench of it on my castle. " He grumped as he barged inside again.

Kira looked to the side at the little river, or stream honestly, and frowned. " I don't like water when it's warm.... How am I supposed to bathe in a freezing cold stream?"

Ozul took his large jacket off and opened it wide while turning his head away. " I don't know. But if I were you, I would do it now while the water is still semi warm. Wash up good, leave those clothes off, and I'll get you to your room. "

" And I'm supposed to walk naked down the halls of the castle??" She asked, crossing her arms. " No towel to dry off with .."

" I'll lend you my coat. It's rather warm. It'll cover you until you get some more clothes. For the moment, go ahead and bathe. "

She sighed, almost whimpered. She really didn't want to do this. Kira dipped her hand in the water and shot back up. " No way in hell! That water is freezing. "

With a sigh, Ozul turned his attention to her, " Then you waited too long. " His eyes held nothing but a threat, " I suggest you hurry up and strip down, scrub down, and make it snappy, or else I'll do it for you. "

Kira went wide eyed. " I like the other Ozul better..."

" Then be a saint, and bring him back? Do as your told. We're rather big on that here. " He snapped before turning his attention pretending that anything was more interesting than she was. Which, was not the case.

" Okay. Sorry. Yes sir. " She said rather genuinely. For a moment she could have sworn it took him by surprise. The girl stripped herself down, and started to wash in the cold stream. She scrubbed her skin as best as she could, washed her hair and fur, and tried to wring them out the best she could.

" O-ozu-l..." She said softly as she shivered.

He wrapped his coat around her quickly. " Inside. Before you get sick. " He hurried her, allowing her to walk as he took her inside the castle.

He had already received orders by message before Kane vanished into his throne room to pour himself over his papers. Again.. Ozul lead her up to what would be her room.

Well, it was a guest room, and while she wasn't actually a guest it would be better than tossing her in the servants quarters. The other girls wouldn't take lightly to that. She was a cat... He thought, and they would probably try to harm her.

The room was a soft pink, covered with little elegant knicknacks and whatnots. Things she would need as well as clothes for work. " You'll put this uniform on in the morning, and anything with it you would like to wear. Just remember that looking cute won't get you anywhere with Kane. The King doesn't take lightly to those who don't do their fair share of work. "

She nodded softly as she listened. That bed .... It looked so... Wonderful... " Yes okay. Uniform, work, bed...."

He bit his lip to hold his laughter. " Not quite Miss Kira. "

" Just Kira please. " She smiled suddenly seeming softer than she had the whole day.

Ozul realized that she was simply a very tired neko. Grumpy because she hadn't seemed to have had a decent night sleep in a while. " You'll have to indulge us on your travels later Kira. But, no, what I said was to dress for bed. You start work first thing before the sun rises. "

" Oh.. okay. Yes. Thank you. " She nodded. She was In a daze. " Oh! Your coat..."

" Don't worry about it. I'll get it tomorrow sometime. " He nodded and gave her a smile before leaving her.

The girl sighed softly. She locked her door, and changed. Then crawled up into the large bed. " Wow.. this is huge. " She sighed again.

Bliss. It felt like bliss. Though, it also felt to empty. Wrong. She was starting to get uncomfortable in it. She climbed out, and went over to her door. With a quick peek outside she weighed her options. She had work very early in the morning. Or she was supposed to at least. But, she was restless. She couldn't help but want to explore.

This was a castle for goodness sake!

Kira slipped out of her door, making sure to prop it open so she could skip back inside easily without losing her room. She wandered down the hall until she came to a door that was opened a crack.

Two people seemed to be talking.
One looked to be a shoulder or some kind of guard. Kira leaned on the door a touch to try and hear what they were talking about. Curiousity was not her friend after all. Still, she couldn't hear anything. Someone turned to exit the room, and she gasped and backed tracked the way she'd come from.

Kira ran until she bumped into a very sturdy something. Well someone. She looked up slowly, and held back a nervous laugh. " Oh hi.. I was just... Going back to bed. " She said In a slow but rushed statement.

" Were you now? And, why were you out of bed to begin with Cat?" Kane asked crossing his arms after steadying her on her feet. " Awfully clumsy for a neko you know?"

" I am not. And yes. I was. " She bit her lip and tried to go around him, only to be stopped by him.

" No. Your going to sit with me now I til I get my work done or excuse you. " He said as he grabbed her by her wrist, and dragged her with him to the office room. He pushed her in a chair, and went to sit behind his desk again. Somehow Ozul had already delivered his sandwich. Thankfully. He was starving.

Kane watched the girl play with her brown locks for a moment before she started to get annoyingly loud with her sighs and yawns. " If you don't sit there quietly, and behave, I'm going to force you to. " He snapped nibbling at his sandwich while signing papers.

" You'll make me?" She asked, getting snarky again, and mischievous. Oh good. He wanted to play with her a bit. She provided him the perfect opportunity, and a nice distraction from boring paperwork.

" Yeah. I can smell you, you know?" He asked as he stood, and walked over towards her. Kira was flustered immediately. His intimidating stature caused a stir in her, and he caught into it with ease. Kane came closer, and closer until his nose was just hovering above her own. " I know what this is doing to you. Behave. Or else. " He smirked before going to sit back down.

Kira was flustered to say the least. He wasn't wrong. It got to her In a good way. But why? She tried hard to push those sinful thoughts away. She'd never had them before. Why should an icy handsome hunk bring the out now? She stared at him. " Why am I even here? I have to be up early. "

" You could have been asleep right now. But now your stuck with me. You are keeping me company. That's all. Fall asleep on me, and I'll really punish you. Probably double your work load to." He warned.

Kira sat up straight. She sighed softly. It was her own fault she was stuck here now. She knew that. Wandering around the halls of his personal home, she had no right to do so. She was a suspected criminal. So, why did he want her to keep him company? She quietly watched him as he worked. The tingle she'd felt between her thighs still lingered. Not by her own intentions at that. .

She could tell he wasn't born a king though. His arms were littered with scars of battles won. His eyes were deep hardened rubies, unwilling to look weak. Though his handwriting was beautiful it was a learned style. Unnatural to his hand. Steady as he was he seemed tensed. Her eyes drifted up his muscular arms, to rest once again on his face.

Kane's eyes snapped up to her own heavy sapphire ones. She stared. Those pools drew him in, the soft smile she didn't know she was giving was like water over the raging fire behind his eyes. Or maybe it threw oil on it instead. He wanted to do or say something he'd regret. Get in her face, and make it flush ruby red again. Just for him.

He glanced down for a moment, and immediately back up. She'd come out of her room wearing thin night clothing. It perfectly accentuating the curves her former clothes seemed to hide. " Go to bed Kira. You have a long day tomorrow. If I catch you back out of your room after curfew I'll punish you. " He waved her off.

Kira stood, wobbling lightly. She was rather tired. Sitting there was exhausting. She didn't know if it was the silence or the stares. The inability to say anything because he might fluster her once again. She yawned, and stretched, causing him to glance back up at her through his long lashes. She had no clue the effect she had. . . Why would she? She was a clueless kitten half of the time.

She turned to him, and gave a small wave. " Goodnight. I'll see you... Umm I don't know when honestly. But I'll see you?"

He gave a little nod. " You'll see me in the morning. I'll be showing you your duties. " He stated coldly.

She sighed softly, and padded back out of the room. She headed back down the hall to her own room, and locked it behind her. She slipped under the sheets, and drifted into sleep.

~~~~~~

" Goodnight. " He whispered softly after she left the room. He shook his head and huffed. " This work is getting to me.."