The Fox and the Cat [Shadow]

Yoka Sake was in her garden again.

Garden was, perhaps, too polite a word to describe the giant hedgemaze that filled most of the fox’s backyard. The maze was circular, filled with beautiful flowers,
standing stones, benches, and koi ponds at each of the ends. It looked like the sort of thing a wealthy woman might install to host her garden parties or have tea in, or any numerous activities a woman her age was expected to enjoy—and that’s not to say that Yoka didn’t enjoy those sorts of activities—but that wasn’t what she had in mind when she built in.

The aerial view of the maze would reveal a large protective sigil surrounding a perfect circle in the center of the maze.

Yoka was in this circle now, adding the final touches to her ritual.

Paint, chalk, and salt could all be varied by the wind, so Yoka had a small copper and iron circle crafted in the center of her circle. A brazier rested in the center, filled with the several dried herbs she’d spent weeks planting and tending to, harvesting them on the appropriate new moon. Several sticks of incense joined the circle, combining with the brazier to fill the air with a fragrant air and a perpetual haze of smoke
.
The fox had an empty bowl before her and a ritual athame in her right hand. She cut her index finger on the left, tracing a circle of blood around her, and then she squeezed several drops of blood into the empty bowl. From a pitcher, she filled the remainder of the bowl with a fine vodka, a pinch of sulfur, and a strand of hair from a young woman who had died a virgin.

She whispered a few words over the concoction and then dumped the entire bowl into the brazier. The smoke turned a dark, strange color and Yoka held her finger over it, letting a few more drips of her blood enter the still-burning fire.

Her voice was loud and determined as she spoke in plain American English.

“I call out to the other side, to the forces that be, to find one who would wish to bargain with a fox, to grant a bargain in return for blood and favors,” Yoka said.

There was nothing to do now but wait.

"I am Xaeli Xeholir Xil'nktar, but call me Cat"

Yoka responded quickly, switching between dialects easily, though her preferred language right now was English. It's not that she found the language particularly beautiful--actually, besides Japanese, her favorite might have been Spanish--but because she was getting used to using it so frequently on the island and her current persona required she be well-practiced at it.

"Greetings, Cat. I am called Yoka, and I am hoping to work out an arrangement with you," Yoka said. She was very direct and to the point. Unlike most mortals she'd met, Yoka did not bother lying to demons. They found out quickly what was the truth anyway, so why bother trying to play a game she wasn't good at?

What threw her off was one the demonness offered her a hand. Yoka did not hesitate, she grasped it politely with a firm grip and shook it in greeting.

Interesting, the fox thought. If the demonness knew about handshakes, then she'd been to this plane more recently than many of the others she'd spoken to.

"Has it not been long since you were last summoned?" Yoka asked.

"The summoning was complete the moment I arrived, next we should negotiate the terms and seal the deal with a kiss. Hmm but you used blood so there is no need for a kiss"

Yoka had a feeling the demon wouldn't be happy being summoned by blood. To be honest, Yoka was a little surprised the summoning worked at all. She had no soul she could offer, but her favors were worth more to her than a soul.

"I believe that you can still find what you are looking for by working for me," Yoka said. She wasn't beating around the bush, she knew the demonness was likely looking for souls.

The demonness was making eyecontact, and so was Yoka. The fox's amber eyes searched hers as they spoke.

Hmmm, it has been around seventeen years since I was last here"

A slow smile broke out across her face.

"That is excellent. I will not have to spend much time making sure you are up to date on today's day and age. Was your last venture to this plane successful?" Yoka asked.

"Should we start with what appearance you would prefer me to have or rules of the contract?"

Ugh. The contract was her least favorite part of the pact and the summoning. So necessary, but full of so many opportunities for loopholes.

"You may don an appearance of your choosing, provided it is deemed appropriate for the situation and socially appropriate when or if you decide to change appearances," Yoka said, waving her long fingers like she was dismissing any concern there.

"The contract is my main concern," Yoka said. "You see, I am seeking immortality. I need to live only 400 more years and it shall be mine, but there are plenty that would prefer I not live that long, for a variety of reasons. In exchange for this contract, I offer you my blood in minor dosages to be defined by myself, as needed, and a favor of your choosing to be collected at any point during or after our contract."

Kitsune were not bound by the same rules demons were when offering favors. It was not something she gave out lightly because, as much as Cat would be working for Yoka, Yoka herself might later find herself working for Cat. It evened out the footing considerably and put them on something of an even power scale.

"I am looking for someone to work for me, to provide protection and information. I would not limit you in seeking other contracts while employed in my services and collecting souls or whatever else you desire. Indeed, if I can find someone to provide them for you, I shall offer them. However, so long as you are in a contract with me, I expect no harm to be brought upon myself. Does this sound reasonable?"

"No harm is to be brought upon the master, this is one of my principles however as for souls I require one kill command for every fifth spell I use and upon completion of contract I will use a memory spell."

"I am to understand this as every 5th command I ask of you must be a kill?" Yoka asked, wanting to make sure she and the demonness were on the same page. That didn't seem like an impossibility for the fox. "And do the kills need to be human?"

"So you want my services as an assassin, body guard and ninja for information gathering? I will also ask one favor of you at some point."

"Yes," Yoka said. Here they were on the same page. "Part of my obligation with the favor is to warn you that my favors are not instantaneous. I am fast, yes, and I pride myself on a speedy delivery, but depending on what it asked, the results might not be immediate. You may ask for the favor at any time, but only you might use the favor. It may not be bought, traded, sold, or otherwise offered to another."

Yoka had never failed to deliver a favor, ever. However, there was once when it had taken her almost three years to complete a favor. It had been a specific favor for a former lover who wanted an elaborate revenge plot on his brother-in-law. Plots like that took time. She hoped this was understood.

"Next point on the contract is housing, I can be de-summoned by a few ways and I rather not go back to the demon world, now i could fix a location by myself or you could offer lodging but I must set up a summoning point somewhere"

Here, Yoka waved her hand dismissively again.

"I can provide housing easily. My establishment, where I will have you accompanying me much of the time, has several apartments in the club's name. However, I will likely keep our summoning point at a location outside of the club. Here, for example, or in the restaurant across the street."

Behind the illusion, Yoka's tails her waggling happily. This was working out quite well.

"I can also compensate you with money, should you desire, for purchasing and spending on goods and services that you may require," Yoka said. "I pay bi-weekly. If anyone is to ask, however, you are employed as Security at the Cross Fox. Paperwork is horrible no matter what eon we're in. Do you have any questions for me or need me to elaborate on any part of what we have discussed?"

Every fifth spell I need to use to complete your commands require a kill command however a master is free to make limitations when I can or cannot use a spell, another master may choose to give commands that never require the usage of a spells. "No the kills does not need to be Human, just sentient."

"Interesting," Yoka said. She'd have to find a way to put that to good use. Right now, Yoka could think of a couple, but she preferred to use power like that carefully.

"Then I shall set up a summoning point at your desired location."

"Excellent," Yoka said. "What do you need from me in order to do so? I want your summoning point to be at a place that is both convenient and discrete. "

Plus, though she hoped it wouldn't come to this, she didn't want it to be in an area that would put herself at danger should something go sour. There was a fine line to walk in these contracts and they were not eternal. It would not do to have all her carefully laid plans for immortality go awry.

"I would not bother you with things I need, I will provide it myself"


"That pleases me," Yoka said, but then she frowned, looking at the demonness. "I think you will find that I am not like other summoners. While you are under my contract, I will treat you fairly. Power is a fickle, indecisive thing and I know too well what it is like to be beneath someone's boot. Do not think it a bother to me to ask for anything you need. What benefits you benefits me."

The fox rubbed her hands together, tilting her head back so her amber eyes could search the sky.

"What do we need to do to complete this deal?"