THE KITSUNE'S LOVER

Prologue

A thousand years ago, the beautiful princess of the kingdom was forced to get married to the prince of the enemy kingdom to end the war. But the princess didn't agree with her parent's decision, so she asked her uncle to take her out of the kingdom, away from her father. He refused at first but then agreed as the princess begged him so much. But little did she know, her uncle was the main reason why the kingdom was in the war in the first place.

Both the princess and her uncle went out into the jungle secretly at night after everyone in the castle fell asleep. Her evil uncle already planned everything for her and even lied that she will be safe after they arrived at the next village.

"GET HER!!!" The evil uncle shouted as soon as they arrived at the meeting point.

The clueless princess was shocked when heard her uncle's sudden instruction. The guards seized the princess and tied both of her hands against the tree next to the campfire.

The beautiful princess was sobbing and begged her uncle again to release her but she got slapped instead.

"This is for your father for taking my throne," the uncle forcefully turned the princess's face with bleeding lips towards his direction. "Enjoy your life as a slave, my princess,"

Suddenly, a man in a black outfit jumped out from the tree and slaughtered everyone in the scene with a katana except for the princess's evil uncle. It happened too fast and the princess lost words when saw the whole situation. She was too scared to speak out or even scream for help.

The man then rushed towards the princess's uncle and cut his limb so he couldn't run anymore. The old man shouted in pain as he fell to the ground. The gold coins from the pouch in his hand were scattered all over the ground.

"That is for your betrayal of our kingdom, Yukimura-sama..." the man pointed his katana straight at the old man's face.

The old man's sweat dropped and begged for his life the mysterious man in the black outfit. "Please...spare me! I don't want to die!"

The mysterious man then raised his katana then cut off his head without any hesitation. He then swung his katana so that there is no blood stick on his katana before putting it back on its cover. The man then walked towards the princess who has been tied against the tree but, his presence made the princess terrified even more. "Don't be afraid of me, hime-sama," he then untied the rope from the princess.

The princess's hands were trembling hard and even she fell to her knees as she didn't have any energy to stand on her feet after seeing all the brutal scenes.

The mysterious man kindly offered his hand to help the weak princess but she was terrified of him while crying so hard and even forcefully dragging herself away from the man.

"Please, don't be afraid of me, hime-sama," the man tried to calm her. "It's me, Danzo, your general..." he then removed the mask from his face, revealing his handsome face with a scar on his left eyebrow.

"Danzo-san..." the princess seemed to calm down after recognizing his face. "I-I thought you were the assassin to kill me."

Danzo smiled and then gently helped the princess to get back on her feet. "Of course, I wouldn't kill you, hime-sama. My job is to make sure you are safe from any threat."

"Thank you, Danzo-san," the princess finally calmed down. "I really owe you this time."

*****

PRESENT...

《Daniel Ito's POV》

How time flies, I thought my high school year never ends.

*distinct voices*

My eyes were caught with a group of girls who seemed so happy when their parents came to their graduation day.

I wonder if should I be jealous of them.

I think I'm getting used to it, well, for your information, my parents never came to my elementary and middle school graduation day or even any special event in my entire life. They were always busy with their work and of course rarely at home as if it was like I was living alone in that big house.

*sighs*

What a pathetic life I have.

"Ano..." There was a girl who suddenly approached me as I was trying to get a nap under the blossom tree at the back of the school building. "Ito-kun, I'm so sorry for coming out of nowhere. Eto...actually have something to tell you."

I sat straight and then turned to look at the girl. The girl happened to be my classmate who sat behind my seat in the class. She is kind of cute, but not cute enough to make my heart skip its beat. I was never interested to fall in love anyway.

"Oh, konnichiwa, Yuki-san..." I still have manners, okay, even though I am lonely. Of course, I will never be a bad boy as I already promised my Obachan not to treat people with bad manners. I stood back on my feet and she was just on my shoulder's level as we stood close to each other.

I know Yuki-san is trying to confess to me, I already noticed that 3 months ago as she always watching me at school from afar.

"Please go out with me!" she then said out loud while bowing towards my direction while handing out a letter with a love mark on top of it.

This is the fifth time the love confession I received this year, but I declined all of it politely. Luckily, they accepted my declination and still treated me kindly. Or my high school life will be doomed for sure if they started to boycott me.

"I'm so sorry, Yuki-san." I apologized while bowing to her too. "It's honoured to me, but I can't accept your love. I hope you will not be mad at me and will find someone better than me soon,"

"Oh, it's okay, Ito-kun, " Yuki-san seemed a little bit sad but she still forced herself to smile at me. "I just tried my luck since this is our last day at school, right? Of course, I wouldn't be mad at you, you are always so kind to all of us."

"Well you are all my classmates, right, " I scratched the back of my head while laughing a little, "By the way, Arigatou gozaimasu, Yuki-san. I hope to see you again in the future," then bowed politely to her before left the school to my home.

"Tadaima," I said as soon as I entered my home. "I wonder what's the point saying that to the empty house...." I mumbled to myself along with a sigh.

I went upstairs to my room and noticed that my MacBook on my desk has been ringing for a while. The video caller is from my mom, my best guess is she is planning to congratulate my graduation with the call and is willing to give me anything for my graduation present, just like usual.

I answered the call while taking a seat on the gaming chair next to my desk. "Moshi-moshi...Gomen, Okasan for taking a long time to answer your call." I politely apologized to my mother.

"Apology accepted..." Yup, there is my mother- a very strict mother actually. I never felt any mother love from her, but it is okay since my grandparents always supported me."Congrats on your graduation, do send me the list for anything you want as for the present. I will let my secretary send it to you later." See, I told you. She is always like this.

She didn't even take a look at me in the video call instead just focused on her paper works and phone.

"Arigatou gozaimasu, Okasan," Deeply inside, I was always disappointed with the way she treated me. But there is nothing I can do to change it since she is my mother who gave birth to me. "Anyway, may I go to Ojisan's house tomorrow? Maybe I will spend several weeks over there if possible,"

"Copy...please mind your manner while at the village. " My mother reminded me with her strict voice. "Don't do anything stupid which can lead bad reputation for your father's name, remember that."

"Haik...wakarimashita, Okasan," I obeyed her then bowed a little before she signalled me to end the call.

I closed the MacBook lid and then jumped onto my king-sized bed full of disappointment.

I guess I will feel more love when at Ojisan's house. I better pack my things as soon as possible and left the house before 4.00 pm.

*

It took me 2 hours to get to Shiroishi, Miyagi by train from Tokyo. Luckily it wasn't the peak hour or I will miss the train for sure. Likewise, it always feels so peaceful whenever I got here and I really can't wait to meet my beloved Ojisan and Obachan.

My grandparents' house is not far from the station, maybe around 800 metres or 1 kilometre from there. So I just walked there while enjoying the beautiful scenery. After around 10 minutes of walking, I finally could see my grandparents' house with a wide yard in front of the house. My Obachan and Ojisan are watering their plants and haven't noticed my presence yet.

"Tadaima, Obasan, Ojisan!" I said out loud as soon as I stepped into their yard with a wide smile curved on my lips. That is the only happiness that I could feel when saw both of my grandparent's faces.