“What’s the Full-” Eva began before shaking her head. “No better question, why would I do that for you? After all you are not one of the local spirits I need to do this for.”

“I am still owed at least one favour by the Kami of Mumeikitsune, and last I checked that was you.” Ratatoskr responded, trying to look as smug as possible for a drunk squirrel in a dirty toga.

“Just because Mumei owed you when she passed away, doesn’t mean you can collect from me.” Eva replied as the two of them finally stepped inside.

“Sure I can.” Was the response of the small rodent that was busy brushing the dirt from its paws. “She always took on debts ‘on the Honor of the Mumeikitsune shrine’s Kami. Which,by now, is you. And you really don’t want to know what happens to Kitsune that break promises.”

“You’re just pulling my tails aren’t you? There’s no way it works like this.” Eva said incredulously. “We aren’t living in times where Samurai kill themselves for avenging their master.”(1)

“Sure, but some of these debts predate Tokugawa Ieyasu.”(2) Ratatoskr countered before climbing up onto the tatami floor. “And if you doubt me when I tell you that you do not want to find out what breaking a promise means for you now, just ask the grumpy old tree.”

“WHO ARE YOU CALLING GRUMPY?!” Komaki yelled from his place at the table.

“Finally. you’re late Eva.” Toya cut off the old tree spirit before he could start a triade. The young Tanuki was sitting on the table, tail lazyly swinging from side to side.

“Sorry, got distracted by a certain brown furred annoyance.” The Kitsune said as she knelt down before the table at her usual place right next to Yukiko, who was already eating quietly. “Which brought up a weird thing. What happens to a Kitsune that breaks a promise?”

“Nothing too bad.” Komaki begins to explain between bites of fish. “You just lose one of your tails. And whatever powers you gained when it grew. In your case, seeing as you are a Zenko(3), it would probably be the ability to transform into a human.”

“And how is that ‘Nothing too bad’?” The German inquired.

“You’ll probably regain it when your next tail grows in in a century or so.” Komaki said, still more focused on his food than the conversation. At least until he heard a bowl break as it hit the table.

“A-a-a-a CENTURY?” Eva shouted, her tails lashing about behind her, while her eyes were wide open and fixed on Komaki. “I need to look like my old self when I go home next September.”

“Oh right, you still think on mortal scales.” The ancient tree spirit responded to the young fox spirit. “If that really is something you worry about, you better not take any risks.”

“So what do you want me to carry around on saturday?” Eva inquired while she absentmindedly gathered up the rice she just spilled. Ears visible now as well, lying flat against her head.

“You’ll see. Just wait and see.” The Squirrel replied before chuckling to himself.

Every one but Yukiko, who kept up eating without a care, turned their heads to the ancient squirrel worriedly for a bit. When Ratatoskr finally finished, they quickly finished their dinner.

Saturday Afternoon

“So when will you show me what you want delivered?”Eva asked, not for the first time that day. Currently she was sweeping the pathway leading to the shrine. Ratatoskr was on her shoulder and they had been holding a whispered conversation when there were no humans in her vicinity.

“Should arrive any moment.” He replied, sitting comfortable on the soft fabric of the kosode Eva was wearing.(4)

Before they could continue their conversation though, she was surprised to see a familiar face walk across the small bridge. With no way to hide her presence nearby, Eva decided to just walk up to Kurt and say hi.

“What brings you here this afternoon?” She asked, a smile on her lips, leaning slightly on her broom.

“Huh, fancy meeting you here, Fuchs.” The other German responded, nervously playing with his braided beard. “I was told to meet someone here a couple of minutes ago. You work here I guess?”

Eva gave a quick nod, but before she could reply with more, Ratatoskr spoke up. “Finally, and your Dad said you were always punctual.”

Taking a step back in surprise, the young man finally noticed the squirrel sitting on the fox’s shoulder. “Are you Ratatoskr?”

“The one and only, now come both of you, I promised old Wolfi I’d take care of your monthly problem.”

“And how does coming to a shrine in the middle of Tokyo help with that.” Kurt asked, eyeing the pair suspiciously, fingers still fiddling away with his braided beard as if they had a mind of their own.

“That’s where Eva here comes in. She’ll get you to an old abandoned shrine in Shikoku for the weekend.”

“And how am I supposed to do that?” Eva asked the small animal on her shoulder, while Kurt was just a bit too stumped to respond himself. “And why do I need to get him to Shikoku?”

“I don’t know that, but his dad asked me to get him somewhere away from civilization.” Ratatoskr said with a shrug, before pulling a small post it note from somewhere and jumping onto Kurt, slapping it to his brow. “And that’s how you’ll take him there.”

The note now stuck to the poor man’s face simply read ‘That old abandoned Mountain temple I found in shikoku.’

With a defeated sigh, Eva stepped closer and picked up a very surprised Kurt. “Huh it does work, you got a return note as well?” She inquired as she felt the tug of an invisible red thread once again.

“Yup, here you go.”

“Thanks.” With those words Eva took the second post it note, and walked up to the torii at the closer end of the bridge. Just as she was about to step onto the foxroad, Kurt managed to get hold of his senses again. “Wait what are you doing?”

“Delivering live cargo.” the Kitsune replied with a playful smirk as she stepped through the torii.