Fox-tailed Espionage (Reserved for Macha alone)

Kohl

"And if I do feel affection towards you what then hm? There are many different types of affection out there. Family affection, like one feels for a brother or sister...Friendly affection, like a best friend you grew up with. Sexual affection, for those that you find attractive and start to get a crush on...Sexual affection can also be love affection if things progress that way." I was fighting a grin, catching sight of the bit of red her face was getting.

"What do you think I feel for you?" I asked, my eyes dancing as I shook with silent laughter. I knew I was pushing her buttons, but I didn't feel all that bad about doing so.

Junko
Out of all the teasing, the fox was starting to see through a bit of it. She closed her eyes as the blush got worse, but found some composure by doing so. "I don't care which kind you feel. I-I-I don't feel affection considering we just met and I am not a big fan of people as it is." Yes! Take that, Kohl! She thought, resisting the smile she wanted to show. 

"Besides who is to say we will see each other again? I could disappear at any moment or end up dead after a brutal fight. There's no reason to have such affection like so when we live in war."

Kohl

"To me that is all the more reason to start something. You never know what happens, or who you might lose and never see again..." I trailed off, my own dark thoughts about my first love running through my head. I pushed them away quickly and slowly got to my feet. "Well, if you don't want to have any affection for me, I should be going on my way then."

I patted her shoulder, "It was a pleasure to meet you like this, and your blush is cute you know. Go on and find someone you like and tackle them in hugs and kisses every day." With that said, I turned and twirled the knife between my fingers as I whistled a merry little tune. I kept my steps slow, a pace one sets if they have no real place to go.

Junko
Poor girl couldn't wrap her head around the situation. All of a sudden he was up and walking away! She opened her eyes and watched him for awhile before sighing and standing up from the tree. She stretched and ran over to him, knowing she could regret her actions... 

"Hey, wait! I just... We can at least hang out! Unless you have something to do, there's no reason for us to just wandering around bored to death, right?" A small smile came to her face just for got in front of him to stop him for continuing his stride. "We could play a game... we could talk some more..." Her gaze fell to her feet as she gave her suggestions, having no idea how he would react.

I continued walking forward until I was standing less than a few inches from her. "A game or talking hm?" I asked my head tilting as I waited for her to look up at me. "Sounds interesting, though what would we play or talk about?" A pang went through me as I stood here, she was so much like my past love...it was heartbreaking to see the similarities.

Junko
The fox girl took a step back, uncomfortable by the boy's presence being so close that her heart raced faster. "U-u-um... well, Kitsunes have a few games dealing with our favorite item..." She explained, reaching to her bracelet and snagging one of the detachable silver bells. "So... we could play a version of hide-and-seek." 

"Or we could talk more about each other, I guess..." She looked up to him with cautious eyes. "If your willing to say more, you are quite an interesting person. I wouldn't mind hearing more stories."

I considered, eying the familiar silver bell. I nodded slowly then, "How about a deal then. I'll play a game if you win, you get to ask anything you want and I will answer it truthfully and to the best of my ability. No lies, no half truths, no riddles." I grinned at her, "But what are you willing to offer me if I win?"

Junko 
"Anything?" Her eyes brightened even if her face stayed a straight line. "You really think you can win?" A smirk threatened to come to her face at that point before it was taken over by a frown.

"Offer? Um..." She crossed her arms and stepped back again. "I will offer to you... oh! I will allow you to have a... friendly affection thing with me if you wish for such a thing. If not... then I could also promise you some more cheese if you so choose."

Kohl:

I blinked at her for several seconds before laughing hard, enough that I had to put my hands on my knees to try and breath. When I got my laughter under control I straightened, wiping at my eyes a bit before I even tried to speak. "Friendly affection? So if I win I get to take you on a date?" I grinned at her then took one of the bells from her bracelet, pinning it to my chest right over my heart.

"I have played your games before." I teased before taking a jump backwards, landing with no noise from myself or the bell.

Junko
The fox could no longer trust her eyes or ears. A date!? He already could move without moving the bell!? She put her hand over her mouth to hide her blush as she stood back and thought about it. "F-fine... a date if you so choose!" She decided and sighed. 

Her body suddenly relaxed and her expression lost most of its emotions as she did her best to think of words. "Alright. The object of the game, in case you haven't heard them before, is to catch your opponent. Getting the opponent's bell before them is kind of a bonus and bonuses could mean... extra detail or a special dress, I suppose for whoever wins. The rules are as followed: Boundaries are the trees from here to half a mile, every five minutes both bells must ring if the holder hasn't slipped up, weapons are free game, but magic is prohibited. I believe that is it..." She finished. "To tag someone, all you have to do is tap them on the shoulder or similar. Any questions?"

I nodded and just stood there, waiting for her to make the first move. I kept my hands to my sides, my body loose just so I could wait for her to come at me, or run away. This was actually a good idea, I reasoned. I hadn't given up on her joining my crew yet and it would give me a good idea of her abilities and skill level. I was struck then, just how familiar this was, but I pushed that thought aside, as well as the next one...the next one was that I was so intent about having her join because she was so much like my past love.

Junko
When she got no answer, Junko placed the bell she had taken off back on her bracelet and dashed towards him and a smirk flashed upon her face as her body shrunk and fur began to cover her face. Once she was a foot away, she jumped and her fox form landed on Kohl's head. The fox quickly fell to the ground behind him seconds after and ran off into the woods.

The little creature kept running and the bracelet made no sound as she kept moving. This was going to be fun.

Kohl

I nearly had a hand on the bell when she landed on my head. My fingers had been touching it, nearly grasping it before she jumped off. I whirled around and actually had to resist throwing my knife and impaling her in the spine. I slid the knife kind of haphazardly in my belt before leaping up into the air, kicking off with all my strength to land in the branches above us. From there I started running towards the direction she had gone off in. The hunt was on.

Junko
With no magic being allowed, she was stuck in her fox form for the rest of the game, a feat that wouldn't be hard to keep up with. The brown creature stopped running and looked behind her, making sure he was still far behind before ripping the bracelet off her leg and struggling to get it to her back leg. She figured her tail would hide it well if it was behind her. 

That being down, she knew she had made enough noise for him to find her fast and quickly turned around and ran parallel of where she had been before, hoping to hear Kohl without him finding her as she stayed in the foliage on the the ground.

Kohl:

I put my hands in my pocket and slowed down, keeping myself relaxed as I scanned around. In this game we had to go for the bells. She was stuck in her form, and so I just had to wait for her to come to me. I hummed a tune at random, continuing to scan the woods as I wandered aimlessly. I kept an ear out for her, focusing on the sound of things rustling in the woods.

Junko
Bingo. The fox girl laid her eyes on the man and slowed her pace. Looking around, she found a branch that had fallen from a tree that was perfect for a distraction. Quietly, she picked it up and snuck up to the boy, staying out of his sight. Once she was at his side, the side where his bell was pinned, she backup carefully. 

The fox threw the branch behind him and then pounced for his chest, either striving to bring him to the floor or get the bell off him. Either way, he would hopefully be confused and not know where the bell was on her after she moved it.

I ducked under her, planting my feet onto the earth and kicking a foot up. It hit her bell ringing it. I used my hands on the ground to spring forwards, tucking into a roll that I came out of to my feet, where I stood completely at ease. I was a bit disappointed, but then I knew that my last companion for this game had been one of the fastest Kitsunes I had ever seen.

Junko
Surprise engulfed the girl's face and she turned to face him once her feet had been planted on the ground. A small yip escaped her lips just before she bolted towards him and feint to his right to get around him. The fox gained enough speed to pounce and fall behind a bush. Alright... what now... maybe no powers wasn't such a good idea... She realized. 

The female moved her paws as her mind bustled to come up with a new plan. Once a lightbulb lit up, her face brightened and she hunched over and licked her muzzle. She studied the boy through spaces that the leaves of the bush gave her to find he was still standing there, waiting for her to pop out. 

In a flash, the fox bounced up and dashed for him once more this time aiming for his legs and opening her mouth to bite down or put him off balance. If she happened to do the latter, she would climb up on him and retrieve the shining bell.

I took her hit and just withstood it. I dropped to a knee by my own power, a hand flashing out to grab her by the scruff of her neck. From there I moved her to be cradled to my chest, my bell right above her face, but my fingers were holding onto her bell.

"Caught you." I told her with a grin, my eyes dancing merrily.

Junko
The fox's eyes grew huge when she looked up to the boy's eyes. He... She was so close to his bell! And yet... he had his fingers over her own. Her first instinct was to snatch the bell from his collar, but he would still have the ability to take both of them in his possession once more. This was over.

The girl in fox form closed her deep green eyes and breathed in deep. When he eyes opened once more, she leapt from Kohl's arms and to the ground at his feet. The changes happened immediately. Her fox ears withdrew into the sides of her head and became round. Her tail swayed as if was engulfed by her rapid increase in height and form. The fox's fur began to whiten and clump together on her arms and legs. Her eyes dilated and her claws retracted. Junko's last mutation was the fur on her head turned chocolate brown and grew longer as she whipped it behind her to see.

She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the boy, seeing the bell in his grasp and the other still attached to his shirt. "Happy? You won." She growled in annoyance. "If I had used my magic though I know I would have won! A kitsune's power is no match for anyone." The fox said proudly no matter how false that was for a defected kitsune.

"I supposed I am to go on a 'date' now." kitsune girl said, putting the word "date" in air quotations. "Where will we be going?"

Kohl

I stood there silently, watching her transform then her facial expression. I listened to her attitude filled words and still I said nothing. It was only after she was done air quoting the word date and asking to where they would be heading did I finally feel like speaking.

I calmly removed the bell from my chest and held the bells both in one hand. I looked at them, my face unreadable as I ran over her words and her actions. I tossed the bells at her feet and turned around to walk away. "Nowhere, I am no longer in the mood to play."

In truth I was ticked and disappointed. It was one thing to lose and accept that loss. It was another to put a rule on yourself, adhere to that rule, lose and then be angry and complain that if you could just have used what the rule prevented you from doing you would have won. And then after knowing what would happen if you lose, she then made it into a joke.

Because of her actions, there was no winner of this game. We both lost. Some more than others.

Junko
"H-huh?" She questioned, unsure of what happened. Junko picked up her bells and jogged after him for a bit before stopping in her tracks. She bit down on her fingernail and tried to think. What just happened? Backtrack... he was having fun beforehand, right? Why was he in a bad mood now?

Once again she chased after him before he was too far and moved into his way again. "Hey, hold on a minute" She spoke, concern leaking out of her voice. "What's wrong? You won! I thought you wanted that date. What changed your mind?" She asked. She corrected her posture and tilted her head to the side as she waited for his answer.

Kohl

"I did. You had an attitude about losing. Were taunting that you would have won had you been able to use magic. You set that rule on yourself not me. Why should I want to stay to play some more, on a date or otherwise with someone with so little respect for her people's own game." I snapped, my eyes flashing with anger.

I closed my eyes and drew in a slow breath. I needed to be calmer, other wise I would have punched her right then. I opened my eyes, and looked at her. Making sure my displeasure was known.

Junko
She took a step back in shock at the harshness that spewed from his mouth. The girl looked to her shoes and put a hand on her other arm. "I... I'm sorry." She whispered. "I didn't mean to..." She trailed off and sighed, accepting another loss. 

"Very well." Junko said, doing her best to compose herself. "I suppose that would ruin someone's day and I apologize sincerely for such an act." Her hands moved to her sides and she looked back up with as much confidence as she could muster. "I would; however, like to honor your reward or ask you to pick a new one for winning." Her face tinted to a light pink and her eyes looked away to hide her embarrassment and shame. 

"Of course, nothing has to be finalized now, I guess. If you need time to think, take it though... if you just want to leave," She paused, getting her emotions under control, "simply say so. I don't want to be waiting two days someplace for you to show up to tell me how I can reward you for winning if you don't plan to see me again."

Kohl

I sighed softly and closed my eyes. "I won't be leaving for a while yet. I have business about town that I still have to do. Stories to dig up, information to be found out, ect." I grew silent again, then opened my eyes to look at her.

"I was disappointed by your reactions. I don't think I will play that game with you for a long while. If you want to play again sometime, you are going to have to earn that right back. As for the reward, we will have to see. I'm still unhappy about the ending. I expected more." My voice was soft but carried easily.