The next morning, the bright sun warmed the comfortable guest room.
Elias and Dee woke up feeling completely rested and happy.
They got dressed and opened the sliding paper doors.
Right outside their room, little Kunou was already waiting for them.
"Good morning, Elias! Good morning, Dee!"
Kunou cheered loudly. Her fluffy golden tail wagged back and forth as fast as a dog's.
She ran right up to Elias and grabbed his hand tightly.
She looked up at him with big, shining eyes.
She was already incredibly attached to him.
Dee walked closely behind them, watching the little fox girl with a soft, knowing smile.
Dee was very smart. She could see exactly what was happening. Kunou didn't have a father around.
The little girl was lonely, and Elias was strong, kind, and protective.
Deep down, Kunou really wanted a "papa."
But Dee just smiled and didn't say anything to ruin the fun.
They walked to the main hall where Yasaka was waiting.
"Good morning,"
Yasaka greeted them, bowing her head with deep, absolute respect.
She was even more polite than yesterday.
Up in the realm of the gods, Amaterasu had been completely silent.
The great Sun Goddess hadn't spoken a single word since seeing Dee's eyes.
Yasaka knew she had to treat these guests like royalty.
"Mother, can I show them the Yokai city today?"
Kunou asked eagerly, jumping up and down.
"Of course, my sweet,"
Yasaka smiled warmly.
"Please, show our honored guests the beauty of Kyoto."
Elias, Dee, and Kunou spent the morning walking through the magical, hidden streets of the Yokai domain.
Kunou was a wonderful tour guide.
She showed them colorful shops selling magic charms, beautiful gardens with glowing flowers, and wide streets filled with Yokai of all shapes and sizes.
"And over there is where we have our big summer festivals!"
Kunou pointed happily, her hand still holding onto Elias's.
But suddenly, their fun tour was interrupted.
A group of tall, angry-looking Yokai stepped right in front of them, completely blocking the street.
It was the old wolf Yokai and his followers from the opposing faction.
"Stop right there,"
The old wolf Yokai said. His voice was cold and very rude.
He didn't look at Kunou. He glared directly at Elias with pure disgust.
"The elders demand to see you,"
The wolf Yokai sneered.
"We want to know why our leader is letting dirty, weak human trash walk around our sacred city."
Kunou gasped.
She instantly let go of Elias's hand and stepped in front of him, her tiny fists balled up in anger.
"Don't talk to him like that!"
Kunou yelled bravely.
"He is my friend! He is a good person!"
The old wolf Yokai narrowed his eyes at the little princess.
"Quiet, little girl,"
He scolded her harshly, taking a threatening step forward.
"You are embarrassing our entire race. Hanging around with lowly humans makes you look foolish. A true princess wouldn't bring garbage into her own home."
Kunou froze. Her brave face crumbled.
Her golden fox ears flattened against her head, and her bottom lip started to tremble.
Heavy tears quickly filled her eyes.
She had just wanted to play with her friends, and now she was being yelled at in the middle of the street.
She sniffled, trying hard not to cry.
Elias saw the tears falling down her cute, fluffy cheeks.
His calm, friendly expression completely vanished.
His dark eyes turned as cold as ice.
Elias stepped gently in front of Kunou, shielding her from the cruel old men.
"You made her cry,"
Elias stated quietly.
Then, Elias stopped hiding.
He didn't move a single muscle, but he simply let go of his absolute control for just one second.
He released his true, terrifying power.
*BOOM.*
The air in the street instantly turned completely solid.
It felt like a massive, invisible mountain had just crashed down on top of the Yokai group.
The bright morning sun suddenly felt cold and dark.
The old wolf Yokai gasped for air, his eyes bulging out of his head. His knees buckled, and he was forced to the ground.
The other rude Yokai fell to the dirt, shaking violently in pure, raw terror.
They couldn't breathe. They couldn't even think.
Every single animal instinct inside their bodies was screaming at them that they were standing in front of an ancient, world-ending monster.
"He... he..."
The old wolf choked out, staring up at Elias's cold eyes with absolute horror.
The crushing pressure only lasted for a few seconds, but to the old wolf Yokai, it felt like a hundred years.
Elias pulled his terrifying power back inside.
The heavy, suffocating air instantly vanished, and the warm morning sun returned.
The wolf Yokai and his followers stayed on the ground, gasping for air and sweating in pure fear.
Elias completely ignored them. He gently picked up the sobbing Kunou and held her safely in his arms.
"Shh, it is okay, Kunou,"
Elias whispered softly. He rubbed her back, his voice turning completely warm and gentle again.
"Don't listen to a single word they say. You are a brave, wonderful girl. There is nothing to cry about."
Kunou buried her teary face into his shoulder, her tiny hands holding tightly onto his shirt.
She felt completely safe in his arms.
Elias then looked down at the shaking old wolf. His eyes were flat and unbothered.
"I am not going to meet your elders,"
Elias stated simply.
"We are in the middle of a tour. You are ruining our morning. Do not bother us again."
Before the old wolf could even open his mouth to reply, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the street.
A dozen royal Yokai guards wearing shiny armor ran over.
It was the lead guard from the bamboo forest, accompanied by his best men.
They quickly stepped between Elias and the old wolf.
"Scram,"
The lead guard growled, pointing his sharp spear right at the old wolf's chest.
"Leave this street right now."
The old wolf Yokai stared at the guards in absolute shock.
He slowly forced himself to stand up on his shaking legs.
"You dare point your weapon at me?"
The old wolf asked, his voice trembling.
"I am an elder! Yasaka would never allow you to do this! She is too soft! She never commands the guards to attack her own people!"
"Things are different today,"
The lead guard said coldly, not lowering his spear at all.
"Lady Yasaka gave us a direct, explicit command this morning. She ordered us to immediately arrest anyone who shows even a single ounce of disrespect to her honored guests."
The old wolf Yokai took a step back.
His eyes were wide with disbelief.
Yasaka was always gentle.
She always tried to talk things out and keep the peace.
She had never, ever ordered her soldiers to arrest an elder before.
But looking at the sharp spears, the old wolf realized the guards were completely serious.
And when he looked back at Elias's cold, dark eyes, the old wolf finally understood why Yasaka was acting so differently.
She wasn't trying to insult the shrine.
She was trying to protect the entire Yokai race from a monster.
"Fine,"
The old wolf muttered, his face turning pale.
He didn't want to be arrested, and he definitely didn't want to make Elias angry again.
He quickly turned around and ran away as fast as he could, his followers scrambling right behind him.
Once the bad men were gone, the lead guard turned to Elias and bowed deeply.
"We deeply apologize for their rude behavior, Lord Elias,"
The guard said respectfully.
"Are you and Lady Dee alright? Is Princess Kunou okay?"
"We are fine,"
Elias smiled slightly, softly patting Kunou's back.
Kunou finally stopped crying. She wiped her eyes and looked around.
The bad men were gone, and Elias was still holding her safely.
"Thank you, Elias,"
Kunou sniffled, giving him a small, happy smile.
"You're welcome,"
Elias chuckled.
"Now, where were we? I think you were going to show us the festival grounds?"
Kunou wiped her last tears away and nodded eagerly.
Her fluffy ears perked right back up.
"Yes! The festival grounds are this way!"
Kunou cheered, pointing down the wide street.
She grabbed Elias's hand again, her happy energy returning completely.
For the rest of the day, Kunou was an amazing tour guide.
She was incredibly cute and lovely, pulling Elias and Dee from one magical place to another.
She showed them how the Yokai made beautiful paper lanterns.
She even taught them a little dance that the fox Yokai did during the summer.
Elias and Dee watched her with warm, happy smiles.
Because they were having so much fun, the time flew by very fast.
Before they knew it, the bright blue sky turned into a deep, dark purple.
Warm orange lights began to glow all across Yokai city.
Night had arrived so quickly.
They walked slowly back to the grand red shrine.
When they reached the hallway outside Elias and Dee's room, Kunou stopped walking.
She held onto Elias's hand very tightly.
She looked down at the wooden floor, her golden fox ears drooping just a little bit.
"Do you have to go to sleep now?"
Kunou asked softly, her voice sounding sad.
"I still want to play with you and Dee. The day went by too fast."
She was scared that they would leave her soon, just like everyone else who was always too busy.
Elias knelt down so he could look right into her golden eyes.
He gave her a very gentle, comforting smile.
"It is getting late, Kunou,"
Elias said warmly.
"You need to get some rest so you can grow strong."
Kunou pouted slightly, clearly not wanting to say goodbye.
Dee walked over and gently poked the little fox girl's nose.
"Don't look so sad, little fox,"
Dee giggled happily.
"We are not going anywhere."
Kunou blinked in surprise and looked up at the pale girl.
"We are going to be staying here in Kyoto for a whole week,"
Dee explained with a bright smile.
"You don't have to hurry and show us everything in one single day."
Elias nodded in agreement and gently patted her blonde hair.
"Dee is right,"
Elias promised her.
"We have plenty of time. We can play again tomorrow, and the day after that. We will be right here."
Hearing those words, Kunou's face instantly lit up.
Her golden tail started wagging happily all over again.
"Really? A whole week?"
Kunou asked, her eyes shining with pure joy.
"Really,"
Elias confirmed.
Kunou let out a happy cheer.
She suddenly lunged forward and wrapped her small arms tightly around Elias's neck in a big hug.
"Okay!"
Kunou smiled brightly, stepping back and waving her hand.
"Then I will see you tomorrow! Goodnight, Elias! Goodnight, Dee!"
With a happy skip in her step, the little fox princess ran down the hallway to her own room, already dreaming about the fun adventures they would have tomorrow.
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