HOPE - Chapter 4

Authors note: Make sure to check the main fanfiction page for gameplay to story changes so you can follow along.

Make sure to also check out the Yokai Tamer game page for more information and to play the game yourself

Also, this chapter may be a little graphic for some readers. Please consider this your warning.

Siegheart was taking a leisurely stroll through the city back towards League headquarters. He had just spent some time at the jewellers upgrading his beads and increasing the aura emitted from them.

It had been a while since he had been able to do that and the advice he received from Ember had been helpful. Kirei had also echoed the same advice so he knew he couldn’t go wrong.

Looking up, he was met with a semi-familiar sight. Ember stood on the bridge looking out over the water. Her outfit was different for once. The short kimono was cut just a little down her thigh. The top half hung off one shoulder and revealed her black bra and full voluptuous breasts.

A slight shiver ran through him. He had never really attempted to flirt with Ember. He found her interesting but too complex for his tastes. But the sight of her now had his senses running south.

“Ember?” Siegheart stepped back and moved behind a pillar to watch. “Can I talk to you?” Levi cautiously approached her. After the run-in with the other kitsune of Hope, he wasn’t sure how she would react to him.

Ember opened her hand. Siegheart’s eyes widened in surprise. Instead of her dainty rapier she always carried, a large black butcher’s knife appeared. She planted the head into the ground with the blade towards Levi. The entire look of her now screamed ‘don’t come near me’. She looked like a yakuza.

“Ember?” Levi took a few steps back until he was out of swinging range. “What was sent to you were lies…”

“Photos don’t lie,” She replied cutting him off. “Videos don’t lie. If someone told me, I could pass it off as a lie. But seeing it with my own eyes…”

“So you blame me?” His voice was angry. “I did everything because I had to.”

“Even becoming a traitor to your own guild and country? Selling gears that were provided by your superiors on the black market for profit? Providing HiVN with information that could break League and Hope? Spreading lies that your guild chose you to bear the alliance by marrying me?” Ember’s voice was sharp and if it was a whip, Levi would be bleeding by now. “I won’t marry a traitor and a thief.” She finally looked at him. “Leave. Don’t come near me again.”

“As you wish…” Levi’s voice sounded insulted. His weapon appeared in his hand. “You will tell me who lied to you before I leave.”

Ember raised her hand and a burst of blue light burst forth, knocking him to the ground and forcing him to spawn elsewhere.

Siegheart stares in disbelief. ‘Railgun… A baby skill. But Ember doesn’t have a baby…’ He looked at his own hands. He wanted to access those skills. To fight side by side with a child of his own. ‘Maybe Ember can help me.’

Carefully he approached her. Once just outside of firing range he called out. “You won’t kill me will you?”

Ember’s butcher’s knife vanished and she turned to look at him. He could tell even she was surprised she had used a baby skill.

“Not you…” her voice was gentler than it had been with Levi. “What do you need Sieg?”

“I have an… odd… request,” he came closer until he was standing next to her. He wasn’t going to ask what that was about. He knew Ember would tell him in her own time. Right now, he knew she needed a distraction. “I was wondering if you can help me create a baby orb?”

Ember’s eyes widened. “A baby orb? Without being married?”

“Yes…” Siegheart scratched his head sheepishly. “If you’re willing to do that for me, I can make it worth your while.” His tone turned velvety and teasing. “You know how much I like my fun.”

Ember considered his offer. Turning around, she leaned against the bridge railing and slightly back to accentuate her chest. “Worth my while eh?” She smiled wryly. “Can you really handle me?”

“Oh…” Siegheart returned her smile and boldly came closer to her until her breasts were pushed against his chest. “I think the question is can you handle me? I’m a wild stallion and I will take you, break you, and have my way with you until you can’t stand.”

Ember purred letting a shiver ripple through her body, causing him to chuckle. “Then show me what you can do.”

That was all the incentive Siegheart needed. He moved swiftly, taking her from the bridge and guiding her back towards the Bamboo Forest. He had taken many kitsune to his favourite hiding spot and today was no exception. Ember was going to feel just how wild he can be before they make an appeal to the gods for a baby orb for him.

~~~~

Ember awoke the next morning to the feeling of arms wrapped around her body and feathers brushing her bare skin. She shivered remembering the previous day. She was surprised her voice was still working with how loudly she screamed.

“Enjoyed that did you?” His voice purred in her ear. ”I’m always up for more.”.

“Mmmmm…” Ember snuggled into him a bit. “I’ll have to take you up on that offer more often. That felt so good.” She turned her head to look at him. “Appeal?”

“Of course,” he replied already planning to give her more than just the appeal for a baby orb. It wasn’t often a kitsune could handle him with as much ease as Ember had. He needed to intensify his play with her. ‘Perhaps traumatised kitsune can handle more pain than the average kitsune.’ He shook the thought from his head and sat up. Crossing his legs loosely, he waiting for her.

Ember sat up and crawled forward and lowered her head before looking at him with a raised eyebrow. In order to make an appeal, they needed to be connected but that couldn't happen with his southern friend being acleep. "A sleepy start to the morning," she purred before lowering her head into his lap.

"I don't wake up ready to go," Siegheart replied with a laugh before letting out a little groan as she took him into her mouth. "Hahahaha… Just straight in there."

"Hmm…" Ember's voice sent vibrations through his member. Her tongue stroked the length as she gradually drew more and more of him into her mouth. Her tongue wrapped around him and stroked as she worked her way down his length. Reaching out, she gently caressed his balls as she bobbed her head.

"Oh…" Siegheart groaned before taking a hold of Ember's head and assisted her to go faster. He had taken her mouth yesterday but her teasing was getting a bit much for him to control himself. "That's it. Faster." Ember's chuckle and purr once again gave a rippled sensation causing him to shiver before releasing into her.

Ember swallowed, drinking everything before lifting her head and coming closer to him. "I can already tell you want to have a lot more fun…" She eased herself into his lap and guided his member into her. "But perhaps, after we do this. Otherwise, we will never get that baby orb for you."

"Yeah," Siegheart replied feeling himself once again sheathed inside her body. He wrapped his arms around her waist to hold her in place. "I'm ready when you are…"

Ember leaned back onto his hands until the two of them could see their connection. She lowered her head and rested her forehead on his chest. Silence spread between them. Siegheart knew that his part to play was to support and be silent. Kitsune were the only ones who knew how to perform the appeal. As far as he knew, a few words were murmured and a kitsune knew almost straight away whether their appeal was successful.

Ember stayed in position for quite a while, long enough for Sieg to wonder if she didn't want to tell him they failed before she started to whimper. He jumped slightly hearing her whimper and feeling, what he assumed was tears, rolling down his chest. He brought one hand higher up her back to try and comfort her. He wasn't sure what was going on. Was Ember crying because it failed?

She raised her hands. One rested next to her head against his chest, the other came up and covered his eyes. Before he could pull his head away, he was whisked somewhere else. He looked around in surprise. The cloudy expanse of the place gave the illusion there was no floor. A soft whimpering to his right drew his attention to a very afraid but also very naked Ember. Looking down at himself, he realised he was the same.

"Where are we?" he whispered to her. "There are creatures here I've never seen before."

"This is Takamagahara," Ember whispered back. "Plain of High Heaven. This is the realm of the Gods." She moved back and away from a kasa-obake that came near her. "We aren't supposed to come here until we pass away from our world."

"That is correct," They both turned to look at four creatures that stood before them. "We, for the moment, represent to Gods in their entirety." The giant red bird stood before them with three other creatures; a white tiger, a blue serpent, and a black turtle.

"Suzaku," Ember breathed, her eyes widening in surprise. "Byakko, Seiryuu, Genbu… Why?" She lowered her head. "I mean no disrespect. I just don't understand."

Suzaku came close and touched the centre of her chest. "You are not attached to this tengu yet you allow him to have a baby orb with you. Do you not wish one for yourself?"

"What do you mean by 'not attached'? We are attached physically but also we are as friends as well," Ember looked at him confused for a moment before smiling. "We don't have a marital bond. If that is what you mean."

"You avoid my question," Suzaku smiled and glanced over to Siegheart. "And you, you are not attached to this kitsune and yet you request a baby orb through her?"

"I…" Siegheart looked away. Ember wasn't the only traumatised one in the room. He also had his scars which prevented him from truly feeling the need to be married. "The Gods know why…"

"Indeed," Suzaku withdrew and closed his eyes momentarily in thought. "We will grant two baby orbs. One for each of you. But know this, both babies will know who their parents and siblings are. They will know and may respond to you in that way. Are you both in agreeable to that?"

Ember nodded her head without looking up at Suzaku. She had no problems with that arrangement and had no problems marrying Siegheart if he ever wanted to. Part of her resolved to tell him that eventually… but now was not the time. Siegheart paused. His baby would recognise Ember has their mother. His baby would recognise her baby as its sibling. Could he handle that happening? Slowly, almost uncertainly, he nodded his head.

"Very well," Suzaku flapped his wings hard. Both were blinded by light and wind.

Siegheart's sense once again was changed. He could feel himself sitting on the ground sheathed inside Ember. Opening his eyes, watched as she moves the hand from his eyes to his chest next to her head. He had so many questions but now was not the time. Light formed under both of Ember's hands before she slumped against him. He knew the appeal was over.

"Ember?" He gently moved her back and rested against his hands. He looked at her hands. Two orbs rested in her hands. Uncrossing his legs, he moved until he laid on top of her. Pulling over a piece of his clothing, he eased the orbs from her hands and carefully placed them on the cloth. He stared at their colouring. He could instinctively tell which one belonged to each of them.

"Pretty aren't they," Ember said softly. He brought his attention back to her. "You're still inside me."

"How are you feeling?" he asked softly. He shifted his hips to grind into her causing a small moan from her. "Because I really want to celebrate and send you into a world of pleasure as thanks for helping me."

"I'm not so tired that I can't handle more from you," she replied moving her legs causing him to fall deeper into her. She bit her lip at that before continuing. "Celebrate with me Sieg…

"Your wish is my command," he grabbed a hold of her waist, determined to finish this round and complete many more rounds before the day was through.

HOPE - Chapter 3

Authors note: Make sure to check the main fanfiction page for gameplay to story changes so you are able to follow along.

Make sure to also check out the Yokai Tamer game page for more information and to play the game

After getting back and being thoroughly lectured by Krakken, Ember wandered down to the hot spring again. She loved how the warm water felt on her skin. Taking off her boots and socks, she slipped her feet into the water and gave a very happy sigh of relief.

Contemplating on the day’s events, she laid back. This was one of the things she loved about being a kitsune. Her tails provided her with a soft bed to lay on. Lazily she placed her left arm over her eyes to block out the sun. A bit of sleep wouldn’t hurt.

Her confidence was low about what she had talk with Sieg about. Her history with tengu was always that they spoke pretty words to her but rarely followed through.

She would have a nap and wake up to being numb to everything again… She was Hope’s guild leader. She will play her part. No need for anything else.  Slowly she began drift off to sleep.

Just as she was starting to relax. Her phone pinged. Lots of pings in quick succession. Sitting up, she looked down at the unknown number.

“You know me but I can’t tell you who I am yet. I wanted to warn you about marrying Levi.”

Ember scrolled down and looked at the pictures. Multiple pictures and videos of Levi doing and saying things that were disloyal and criminal. Her fur on her tail stood on end at one video in particular.

“She’s an easy catch,” Levi was speaking to Kuper and Hika. “Easy to tame. League wants me to hold the alliance between us and them by marrying her. I’ll be able to make sure she stays weaker than you.”

More and more information poured from the unknown number. Ember quickly sent a message to Shirahime and asked her to bring the girls to the hot spring before she continued looked at all the photo and video evidence before her.

One final message from the unknown number before it went silent. “You deserve much better than this slug. Please heed my warning.”

“Ember?” Ellie approached her cautiously. Ember’s aura was powerful and fully activated in her anger. “Shirahime said you wanted to see us…”

Ember wordlessly handed her the phone and sat quietly shaking. She didn’t trust herself to say anything.

“We’ll stop him from coming near you…” Ohime’s voice was angry. “No one messes with our guild.”

A tengu in crimson clothes and a kitsune in a pretty yellow dress stood in the shadows. The kitsune held her phone tightly against her chest as if in prayer.

“Ember will be angry and refuse to talk to Levi,” the tengu said knowingly. “Once she’s triggered she’s hard to shake from that thought pattern.”

“I hope you’re right,” the kitsune replied softly. “Ember doesn’t deserve more heartbreak.”

“You’ve saved her from that now…” he replied placing a hand on her wrist.

~~~

Levi hopped off his peacock and handed the reins to a waiting miko. Walking briskly up to the doors of Hope guild headquarters, he took a deep breath and pushed open the doors.

“We were wondering when you were going to come,” Shirahime’s voice was low. “So the question is why are you here?” Three more kitsune surrounded him.

“Be mindful of what you say next,” Ellie’s voice was also dark. “I haven’t decided whether to castrate you or not.”

Levi’s face pale and he took a few steps back. “Hopefully you won’t…” He opened up his hand and showed them the ring.

Weapons appeared in the hands of each of the kitsune. Levi took several more steps back. “Ladies?”

“Ember is not someone you can have,” Ellie’s voice was dark and menacing. “Ate Ember deserves the best and that is not you.”

“We’ve seen the evidence,” Shirahime’s voice was deeper than usual. “Someone sent Ember a lot of photo and video evidence of your illicit activities. You’re a traitor Levi. To your country and your guild.”

“We won’t allow you to come near Ember,” Ohime stood casually but her aura and presence clearly indicated she was anything but relaxed. “Leave Levi… Before we make you.”

“Whatever was sent to her were lies!” Levi cried confused as to what was going on. “Please let me speak to her.”

“Not if we have anything to say about it,” Ellie replies bringing her sword up into an offensive position.

~~~

Meanwhile, Ember sat in her room. She contemplated what the mysterious number had sent her. Picking up her phone, she dialed a certain silver eyed tengu’s number.

“Nani?” His voice sounded surprised at the call. “What can I do for you Ember?”

“Just wanted to pass on a warning,” she replied softly. “I received a lot of evidence but I want you to make up your own mind. Be wary of Levi, Nagi.”

Nagito was thoughtfully quiet. “Why?”

“He’s not who he appears to be,” Ember sighed softly. “I’m not going to influence your guild or interfere but I wanted to just warn you to be wary is all. If you need the evidence or want to see it, I’ll forward it to Kirei.”

“Ok…” Nagito let out a big sigh. “Ember… Godson wants you as well by the way.”

“After what has happened with Kirei and Levi, I’m not ready for another spouse.” Ember replied. “But if he’s serious, he can talk to me and see where it goes.”

“I’ll let him know,” Nagito replied with a slight laugh. “Thankyou for warning me.”

HOPE - Chapter 2

Authors note: Make sure to check the main fanfiction page for gameplay to story changes so you are able to follow along.

Make sure to also check out the Yokai Tamer game page for more information and to play the game yourself

Ember stood by the tree watching Shawn and Shara exchanging vows. Her heart hurt but was happy seeing the bright smile on Shawn's face. She knew she made the right decision because of how he was smiling so brightly. Her thoughts slowly drifted to Kirei. Ever since her conversation with him, he had been sending her random gifts on her phone. Eternal True Loves, Carousels, High 5s… She could have sworn she had seen all of the different types by now. She felt good about Saturday and looked forward to it.

Looking back out at the congregation witnessing their wedding, she spotted Levi. He didn't look like he had spotted her yet. She twitched her ears feeling conflicted about wanting to be with Kirei but feeling so comfortable talking to Levi about deeper things. Reaching up, she tugged her left ear hard. She didn't like feeling so conflicted. She was sure that she was making the best choice.

"Why are you wearing that expression at an occasion like this?" Kirei thrust a plate of sweets under her nose. "Be happy for them." He waited until she took the plate before putting his hand on her head to mess up her hair. "Enjoy the moment."

Ember sighed and nodded, looking up and back to where Shawn and Shara stood. "How did you spot me? Not many know I like this spot."

"A guess?" Kirei replied in an enigmatic tone. "You're overthinking things."

"I hope that's all it is…"

Time moved fast for Ember. She sighed Saturday was tomorrow. Picking up her phone, she flicked through her contacts until she found Kirei's number. Her fingers flew, she was excited to tomorrow and want to arrange with him the time so she could send the invites out. Her tails flicked happily as she spoke to him on the phone.

"Yeah about that…" His tone changed from flirty and playful to serious. "I don't think I'm right for you. We can't get married."

Ember froze. Her hand shook and she almost dropped her phone. "So you don't want me. I'm not good enough to be married to you?"

"That's not…" Ember was already in tears. Her head and heart racing with memories from her past.

"I hear you loud and clear, Kirei!" She hung up on him and threw her phone across the room. She couldn't take it any more. Her memories about her first spouse, Assassin, plagued her mind. She knew with how she ended the call, Kirei would likely come to her directly to talk to her. So she did the one thing she could think of doing…

She ran.

She ran down the stairs and into the stables where her mount, Tsuki, waited for her. Hopping onto the magical floating moon, she took off into CS City to her favourite hiding spot. It was an old tree by the river. She loved watching the red leaves float lazily from the tree only to drift away. She got off Tsuki and ask it to stay. Looking around, she made sure that no one saw her before she climbed up into the tree to hide amongst the leaves so she could cry in peace.

She didn't want anyone to see her like this…

Krakken paced his bedroom worriedly. No one had seen or heard from Ember since the day before. He knew she wasn't in her room because he had pounded on the door for ages and threatened to enter only to finally do so to find it empty. The only means of contact with her, her phone, laid on the floor against the wall. Taking a deep breath, he sighed. Something must of happened. It wasn't normal for Ember to disappear for a long period of time without someone knowing.

Picking up her phone again, he opened it and sought out two numbers. He knew she was deeply involved with both tengu to varying degrees so if anyone knew where she was it would be them. He quickly called Kirei first. The response was surprising.

"Ember, look I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to upset you I…"

"Stop Kirei, I'm not Ember." Krakken's voice was quick and sharp. He didn't like what he was hearing from Kirei. "I'm calling because she's missing. No one has seen or heard from her yesterday morning. I was hoping you might know."

"She's missing…" Kirei's voice was unreadable. "It's my fault… She asked me yesterday what time we should have our wedding because we had decided to do it today. But I had changed my mind… When I told her she became upset and hung up on me."

"So that's why you were here yesterday," Krakken mused partially to himself.  "Not to see if we how were travelling with HiVN's attacks on us, but to see if you could catch Ember to talk to her." He had thought it was odd yesterday since Ember would often update Kirei and vice versa if something was happening that could affect both guilds. There was never a need for Kirei to visit personally.

"Yeah…" Kirei's voice sounded somber. "Let me know how you go. She's a really good friend and I don't want to lose her. I should have told her much sooner that I had changed my mind. I…" His voice changed to almost playful. "I found someone who I've fallen deeply for. I should have told Ember sooner.

"That would have been a good idea given her history…" Krakken sighed. "Thanks Kirei. I'm going to give Levi a call. Maybe he might know where she is.

"No problem… Sorry for causing trouble…" When the call ended Krakken got up and left his room. He needed Ohime's support through this. Not many knew about Ember's past and he wasn't sure if he could carry the burden of trying to find her alone after finding this out. Ember would have ran and hid herself away. Just like the did the first time.

Reaching the Dynamo's floor, he walked up to Ohime's door and knocked on it lightly. He could hear giggles and laughter from inside before Ohime opened the door. Ohime wasn't expecting her spouse to come see her and was surprised at the visit.

"We have a situation and I need you help," Krakken said with a sigh. He looked in to the room and added "All of your help."

Ohime guided him inside and closed the door. "Can't Ember help you?"

"That's part of the problem. Ember is missing," He quickly relayed what he found out from Kirei to them and what he suspected Ember had done in response. He held up her phone and added "We have no means to contact her so where ever she is she will be very upset and very weak by now since its starting to get dark. Unless she's eaten something, it's been almost 2 days since she ran away."

"No…" Shirahime said hands going to her mouth. Aside from Krakken, she had lived with Ember and supported her through her past. She knew more than anyone what was going through Ember's mind right now.

"That…" Ellie looked angry. "How could he do this to her? She was so happy with knowing she was going to get married to him."

"I saw them," Shara whispered. She was still uncertain about being allowed to speak up as she was new. "Her and Kirei at my wedding. They looked so comfortable with each other. I never suspected he would do this to her."

"How can we help?" Hebi asked him. "If we can't contact her to find out where she is, how can we help her?"

"I'm hoping she hasn't left CS City," Krakken replied flicking through her phone to find Levi's number. "I want you girls to start the search. Don't let the rest of the guild know just yet. I'm going to give Levi a call to see if he can help. He has an uncanny ability to get through to her when she's like this. Then Mak and I will also join the search."

"Let's hope that he doesn't hurt her just like Kirei did…" Ellie's voice was dark. "Or his manhood is gone." The girls nodded and headed out leaving Krakken to shiver at the thought of being castrated.

"May the Gods help you Levi…" Krakken said before making the call. He paused in his flicking at another name. "Siegheart…" Krakken sighed. He resolved to call both tengu. He had his reservations about Ember's friendship with Levi.

Levi flew over CS City on his peacock mount. His thoughts reeling over what he had heard from Krakken. Below he could see the girls, Krakken and Mak searching for her on foot. He patted the proud bird before looking around. There had to be something. Anything. Each Moon mount he saw, every Gemini pet he found, he investigated to find out who their owners were. It wasn't until he happened across an unattended Moon mount near an old tree. Directing his peacock to land, he scanned the area.

Hopping down, he gave the bird another pat and a request to stay before he moved closer to the seemingly abandoned Moon. He could hear soft crying nearby but couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from. Coming closer to the tree, he barely managed to place his hand on the tree before he was tackled by something.

"No closer no closer!" Levi stared in surprise at the Gemini pet attempting to hold him down. The dark female was the one who spoke. "My master wants no one closer."

"We fight we fight!" The light male one added. "We won't let you go closer."

"Look at me," Levi said softly to the Gemini startling it. "You know me. You've seen your master talk to me before when she was sad. Won't you let only me go closer?"

The Gemini tilted their heads thinking. They turned to each other while sitting on his stomach. Levi waited knowing that cooperation from the Gemini would be easier than having to keep them at bay.

"Master knows Master sad," The dark one said to the light. "We know master needs friend. But master wants no one."

"Master hurt Master remembering," the light one replied. "Friend may upset further. He doesn't know."

The dark one looked at Levi before looking back at the light one. "Can help. Can help. He wants Master."

The light also looked at him before back to the dark one. "Then we allow? We allow? Master will be angry.

The dark nodded again. "But Master needs. Master needs. He can help her."

The Gemini got off Levi and floated to one side. "We wait. We wait. If you hurt more we attack."

"I understand," Levi said brushing himself off. "I will try my best not to hurt her more." He patted their heads and went to climb the tree. What he saw before him upset him greatly.

Ember laid curled up hidden within the leaves and branches. Her tails tightly wrapped around her body. Her face red and wet from crying. Even now, she was asleep but still crying and softly talking to herself. A repetitive, negative mantra. 'I'm worthless. Discarded. Unwanted.' She was covered in fallen leaves, a testament to how long she had been hiding here.

Levi took out his phone and sent a quick message to Krakken to let him know he found her. He received a thumbs up and a "take care of her" back. Looking up again, he slowly approached her along the branch.

Ember awoke to the feeling of the branch moving. Looking through a gap in her tails, she cried out. "Leave me alone Levi!" Fresh tears flooded down her face. She didn't want to be seen like this. Least of all by him.

"I'm not going anywhere Ember," he perched himself on the branch within arms length of her. "I'm not leaving."

Her tails tightened around her even more blocking his sight of her face. Silence spread between them. Hesitantly, he gently stroked one of her tails, letting her know he was still there. Waiting.

It was a while before Ember said anything. "I guess you know what happened…" her voice was muffled and watery but Levi could hear it just fine. "It happened again. No one finds me worthy of the effort. I must not be spouse material. I'm just used and thrown away."

Levi waited, unsure on how to respond to her. He wanted her to keep talking. If she spoke she might unwind herself so she could talk to him better.

Ember took his silence the wrong way. "You think that way too," In one swift movement, she unwound herself and went to leap from the tree. Levi's hand gripped air as she vanished along with her Moon and pets.

He hit his fist hard against the tree. "Damn it!

***

Siegheart stood scratching his head. 'Ember is so much more trouble than she's worth sometimes…' he thought with a sigh. He had been looking the Bamboo Forest looking for her but really wasn't sure why Krakken had called him. His eyes caught a little yellow whirlwind fly past him and almost topple him over. Reaching out, grabbed a hold of her arm and pulled her close to him. Ember struggled trying to fight against him. She couldn't see who had a hold of her but she wanted to hide again.

“Ember…” Siegheart growled softly in her ear. “Again? Why is it always me who finds you? What set you off this time? I thought Kirei and you were getting together soon.”

His voice broke her from the hold her past had on her. She relaxed resting back in his arms, tears still silently falling. “Kirei doesn’t want me. I saw Levi as well not too long ago. He doesn’t want me either.”

Siegheart, a little surprised, replied softly. “Kirei should have said something sooner. He’s fallen in love with Chocolatte.” He saw a wry smile form on Ember’s face. “They were getting close even before the guilds got on the bandwagon about getting you two together.”

“I know…” Ember said softly. “He told me a while back he had his eye on someone. That’s why I said ‘only if he was ok with it’. I’m glad he finally made his move.”

“As for Levi…” Siegheart tilted his head. “He’s a mystery to me.” He tickled her until she was trying to wiggle away from him. He liked teasing her and making her smile, she was easier to handle when she was happy. He knew his next question was going to be a heavy one.

“So what sparked this episode?” His voice was soft. He was well aware Ember had a traumatic history which flavoured a lot of her normal behaviour but didn’t know the details. Part of him didn’t want to know but he also knew talking about it helped her to let go and get better.

"I was remembering my first spouse, Assassin. He was so charming and sweet. Would always shower me with gifts. But all he wanted was a convenient playtoy. Always wanted sex. Nothing more. Didn't want to start a family. Whenever I pushed the topic, he would yell at me. Tell me that I'm not smart enough to look after a baby. That a baby with me would be just as worthless as me.  I felt trapped and couldn't see a way out. One day, he gave me his ring and said that he was going to his real spouse overseas. He could handle having to train me anymore because I was a lost cause."

Siegheart paused and tightened his hug. He didn't realize she had been through all of that before he met her and he knew that it just scratching the surface. "Perhaps he wasn't worthy of being with you. But then what about Shawn?"

"I had asked him. I didn't see it before why he never agreed but I understand now. He already has a child, Haidee, with Shara. Now that she's back in the country and they are back together they have already been blessed with another baby." Ember sounded sad but accepting.

They stood in silence for a bit before Siegheart let go of her. “I’m here if you ever want to talk Ember. Try not to run away again.”

Ember gave him a small smile. “Aight Sieg. I’ll try…”

HOPE - Chapter 1

Author's Note: Chapter breaks in this chapter will be introducing the different characters mentioned. I'll be doing this for each chapter if there are new characters or pictures of locations. There may be normal chapter breaks as well if I don't have a picture to add.

Note 2: Make sure to check the main fanfiction page for gameplay to story changes so you are able to follow along. Make sure to also check out the Yokai Tamer game page for more information and to play the game yourself

The kitsune looked up at the silent sakura tree sitting just outside her guild's headquarters… Her home. Her short brown hair, done in a short bob, accentuated her brown ears with their light white on the tips. Her nine soft white tails drifted lazily in the breeze while she let herself be whisked away with her memories. She brushed the stray petals off her yellow outfit before heading inside.

"Ember?" The kitsune turned to the sound of her name. A tengu with bright blue eyes and dark hair approached her. "Are you ok? You sad today."

"It's nothing Shawn," she mumbled softly. "Shara's coming to stay today, isn't she?" Shawn nodded with a smile on his face. "Are you sure you want to leave things as they are?"

"It's ok Ember,"  He pulled her into a warm hug. "She understands." He paused, concerned by her lack of response to his hug. "Ember?"

"I'm…" she took a deep breath in before letting out a sigh. "I'm not ok with it. She was your spouse from so long ago. It's not right for us to compete for your attention." She placed her ring in his hand. "Make sure to make her happy."

Before Shawn could respond, Ember walked away and up the stairs to where the leadership team for her guild resided. Her heart felt heavy but she knew this was the right thing to do. Stepping into her room, she closed the door for some alone time.

Only a few hours had passed before there was pounding on her door. Ember tried to ignore it before a loud voice called out to her "Ember!" She recognized the voice of the blue eyed, white haired tengu that was her second in command. "Ember! Did you forget? We have a siege to get to."

Sitting up, she put on her twin bracelets and pearl necklace before opening the door. "I didn't forget. I just wanted some time out for a while." She noticed the tengu's eyes look down at her hand. "Shawn and I had a divorce. Shara's coming and she was his spouse before I came into the picture. It wasn't right for me to hold what is rightfully hers."

With a huff, he grabbed her wrist and dragged her downstairs to where the rest of the guild was waiting. "We need you. You've got the strongest aura out of all of us. Please don't fall apart on me." His voice was firm but also concerned and sincere. "They look up to you. At least, for the moment, show you aren't ready to crumble."

"Who are we against today?" She asked, choosing not to respond to his comments.

"League." he replied causing the guildsmen near him to groan. A kitsune with matching purple eyes and hair leaned against him and rolled her eyes. "I know Ohime…"

"We're going to be slaughtered!" A green eyed, purple haired kitsune said with an exasperated sigh. "They have all the strongest auras in their guild." Echoes of the same sentiment flowed through the group.

Ember, about to say something to try ease the negative emotions, was interrupted by a windchime sound from her pocket. Walking out of the room, she pulled her phone from her pocket and smiled at the screen before answering. "Hi Kirei,"

"Hi!" The bright voice of the tengu floated into her ear. Ember smiled. She loved it when Kirei would contact her. He always knew the right thing to say to her. "Ready for our battle?"

"The guild is already preparing themselves for a slaughter," she replied with a sigh. "You know League is stronger than us so why are you even asking that question?"

"Hahaha," Kirei's laugh sounded like it was echoing around her. "Just enjoy and it gives everyone battle practice for the CS League."

"I guess…" she said with a mock huff of exasperation. "See you on the battlefield."

"See you then!" She hung her phone up and no sooner as she had done so, the windchimes began again.

She blinked in surprise and looked down. "Levi?" Answering the call with a mildly bewildered look on her face, she turned and leaned against the wall. Calls from Levi were different to calls from Kirei. While Kirei was like a playful best friend, Levi's conversations with her were like that between close siblings. A wry smile formed on her face while he spoke to her. Unlike siblings, Levi was interested in one thing with her and made no secret of it. "You know, if I ever was single again, you would have to challenge Kirei for my hand."

"I don't know if I could win out against Kirei," Levi replied with a down but slightly mischievous voice. "But we won't know until you're single again will we. You've said you have something good going with Shawn and don't plan to leave him." Ember's heart tightened at that comment. Little did they know that news of her divorce would be getting out and cause a lot of disruption.

"Ember please don't kill me." A yellow eyed white haired tengu said with a wink and a smile as she darted at him with her sword. His eyes caught a glimpse of her bare hand and nudged a snow white kitsune beside him.

"If you want that Toto, then ask Godson and Darius not to kill me," Ember replied back playfully before cutting him down forcing him back to their guild safe point. "All's fair in war."

"Hey Ember!" The snow white kitsune said dancing around with her sword playfully dodging Ember's attacks. "You're single again. When did that happen?" Almost as if she had said it with a megaphone, the battlefield went silent. Ember's cheeks went red before spinning into another attack. She didn't want this to be known. Not now. "You and Kirei talk a lot. Why not marry him?"

"Kimber!" Ellie cried out with a laugh as she and Ohime rushed past then to try and attack one of the towers. Ember internally groaned… she had a shipping name now. "Yeah why not!"

Ember's face heated up even more when she came face to face with Kirei. His eyes were shining as they danced in battle before he sent her back to her guild's safe point. "Only if he's ok with it." she called out in response. She stayed in the safe point for a moment to try and calm herself before heading out again. Her luck was not with her. Once again, her and Kirei came up against each other in battle. Each time she came out of the guild safe zone, she could see Levi at a distance. His expression was unreadable. She cringed internally… This was not how she wanted things to happen.

When the battle was over, Ember felt like she was going to burst into literal flame. The teasing about being single and the pushing of her towards Kirei was more than she could handle. She flopped down in her guild's safe zone not planning to move again until she wasn't looking like a tomato. But even with her eyes closed, she could sense she wasn't alone.

"You're pretty popular amongst my guild," she knew this voice. It was the silver eyed guild leader of League, Nagito. "I can help. It can strengthen the bond between our guilds." He sat down next to her and waited for her to open her eyes. "What is it that you want?"

"I do prefer Kirei," she replied in a whisper. "He's helped me so much and is so much fun to be around." Her mind drifted to Levi's unreadable expression before she shook her head to clear it. "But only if he's ok with it."

Ember sighed and sat with her bare feet in the hot spring that wound around CS City, flowing through each guild territory like a chain connecting them all as one. The events of the evening playing in her mind. Flopping onto her back she looked up at the stars trying to work out what to do now.

Windchimes…

She was too tired to pick the phone up and just hit speaker. "Hello?"

"Hi Ember," Kirei's voice sounded different. Almost somber in tone. "How are you feeling after the siege? I wasn't expecting all of that to happen."

"Neither," she replied tiredly. "I don't know whether to be flattered or scared that I'm so well known with League." She moved the phone closer to her so he could hear her better through the speaker. "What do you want to do?

"I don't mind," he replied. His voice soft to her hearing. "When should we do it?"

"Saturday?" she asked. It was a few days away but it was the only free day she had to dedicate towards being with Kirei.

It was almost like she saw him nod. "Saturday. I look forward to it." She jumped in surprise as a floral heart popped up on her screen.

"Thankyou for the Eternal True Love, Kirei." she said with a smile.

A small laugh from his end before the call ended. Ember sighed and placed her arm over her eyes, heart making itself well-known in her chest.

More windchimes. She let them pass without answering. She wanted the moment to sink in before she pick up another call. No sooner had the windchimes died down that they started up again. She knew who this would be, calling her now. She wasn't sure how she was going to respond to him if he asked any hard questions. On the third ring of the chimes, she picked up.

"What happened with Shawn that you’re now single?" Ember sighed. She knew he would be a bit put out. He had recently married Pandan because she said she wasn't planning on leaving Shawn any time soon. Her silence must of worried him as his tone changed from questioning to concerned. "Ember?"

"Shawn's spouse… The one he had before he met me," her voice was hesitant. "She's coming back into the country and wants to be with him again. He said she understood he was married to me now…" she paused, she felt empty relaying this to him. She knew it was her choice. Ellie and Ohime said the same to her as well earlier. It was the right choice.

"I'm here Ember," Levi's voice soothed her, his tone the one he often adopted when she was upset or agitated about something. "I'm listening. I won't judge you."

"I didn't feel comfortable with it," she sigh feeling deflated like a popped balloon. "I didn't want to take what was rightfully hers." Tears made their way over her cheeks. She could feel her heart finally starting to realize what she had done. "I wouldn't have left him otherwise."

"Ember…" Levi's voice was soft to her ears. His tone was the same that Kirei had used earlier. "Do you… I mean…"

"I prefer Kirei, Levi," she said sadly. "I'm sorry. I just… I feel happy when he's with me."

"I understand… Truly I do, Ember."

~~~

Unknown to Ember, Shawn had heard everything. He was still ruffled by her returning her ring to him without giving him much of a chance to reply. He rested his head against the pillar he was hiding behind. "I understand as well, Ember…" Turning he walked back inside leaving Ember on her own. He didn't need to talk to her anymore.

Walking to his room where the Elites were placed, he flopped onto his bed with a sigh. Tomorrow Shara was moving in and joining the guild. To help Ember move on and to give her choice meaning, he had to propose to Shara. While his heart hurt from Ember leaving him, he was also happy that his sweet kitsune would be back in his arms again as his spouse.

New Story

It's been a while since I wrote anything...

So I've decided to start a new fanfiction for a game I've been playing called Yokai Tamer. This one may have pictures attached as well since I'm currently playing it.

Hope you all enjoy. Below are some links to the game in case you want to try the game yourself.

Yokai Tamer Facebook

Yokai Tamer Homepage