>>334586
>"My Dear Husband has been poisioned?"
>"To put it simply, urh, my lord, the lord, that is to say, your husband, the lordship WAS poisoned." the old doctor said
>"Ushi-Oni blood affects each man differently and has more profound effects when it exits the body".
>"It is good though," The old man began "that he did not suffer some of the more extreme symptoms."
>"How long will I be like this?" I managed.
>"With proper rest? This fatigue and restlessness will pass within a week my lord.
>Oh what a blow.
>Here I am, barely able to move, set back, unable to sleep, and worst of all…
>"Do not worry Dear Husband, I will stay by your side." She said, gazing over me with her hand on her heart.
>"Attend to the duties of the household. Leave me be." I ordered.
>"But this is my duty Dear Husband, as your wife." She replied, setting herself besides me.
>"Would my Dear Husband like to hear a tale? One to stimulate your mind and set your heart at ease?"
>"If you must."
>"Long ago before the Time of Great Strife and the rise of Demetra, there was a land not so far from here where the harvests where plentiful and the people were happy.
>All except for the Assiduous Man, who worked tirelessly and yet was unfulfilled.
>One day he was walking though the forest, contemplating his lack of fullfillment, when he came along a fox, who had fallen into a trap.
>Thinking very little of it, the hunter freed the fox and carried on his way.
>When he arrived home in the evening he was greeted by a most beautiful woman, a foreigner who had lost her way.
>He was so enamored with her that he proposed on the spot and she accepted him.
>They spent many happy days together, the man had finally found fulfillment.
>But even the most benevolent fortune could have absences, as on the eve of their 9th anniversary the Assiduous Man discovered his wife's true form.
>She was a fox.
>Enraged that he'd been deceived and thinking all his happiness was for naught, the man chased the fox from his household and into the woods.
>Foxes where very social creatures and within days all had learned of the Assiduous Man's slight.
>As retribution they ate his livestock and let pest befall his fields.
>The villagers where very sympathetic to the Assiduous Man's plight and set out to torch the forest where the Foxes lived.
>Slights beget slights and violence beget violence.
>This is how Ancient Kitsune and Humans grew to hate each other."
>"I never expected such a juxtaposition from you." I admitted.
>She smiled.
>"Dear Husband is too kind, I merely chose the story you would enjoy the most."
>"That tale has many variations doesn't it."
>"Yes, but they tend to be sympathetic to humanity or the Kitsune. I prefer this fable's honesty"
>Her voice danced on the last words and pinged my heart with wicked guilt.
>"There's something I need to tell you." I tried to say.
>"Dear Husband your voice is a little horse." she said leaning in.
>I hate repeating myself.
>I threw open my blanket and patted the space besides me.
>Her face grew bright red and her hands jumped to cover her expression.
>It was as if a thread had pulled her body, ears, and tails up into the air.
>Slowly she settled down, her ears fell flat against her head, and her tails drooped to the ground.
>Her outer garment drifted to the floor followed by herself.
>She was only wearing one robe, it was as thin as mine.
>"Yesterday." I spoke into her ear. "My personal servant came into the bath."
>I was expecting her to draw away, to scream at me, the serenity of the scene to be broken.
>But she just stayed there, waiting for me to finish.
>"She only explained to me the extent of her duties, nothing more."
>"Then there is nothing to be worried about." She replied moving closer to me.
>"…" I tried to speak but a pain in my chest stopped me.
>"My Dear Husband, you needn't say another word."
>She pulled the blanket over us and pressed herself against me.
>I was unable to resist while her tails wrapped around each part of my body.
>First my legs, then my waist, and finally my arm.
>A full body embrace that I couldn't reciprocate.
>Shortly after I fell asleep.