As the platform rose up Kat questioned Minor. “So what we can we expect from your Grandma?”

“Well, I haven’t really seen her since the ritual, she had to be around to place that illusion on Major but I don’t really remember that, I more so have the memory of Major remembering that? If you follow? From what other people have told me she is really adventurous but hates tedious things. She also gets side-tracked somewhat easily unless she decides to focus intently on something in which case there is no hope of getting her attention. That’s probably how the murals down in the room below were made. She probably worked on it non-stop and that caused it to shift into a masterwork artefact” said Minor

“Hmm, ok. Where are we likely to come out?” said Kat

“Well, probably near the entrance hall I’d guess, but then again it depends if this is supposed to be a secret from everyone or just the standard riff raff trying to visit her” said Minor

Kat nodded at Minor. The platform was extremely slow in it’s movements which helped keep Minor calm but for Kat is was slightly irritating to see it slowly inching upwards. *I know these platforms are horribly inefficient but are they even good for anything? I could run up a flight of stairs faster than this.*

After a full five minutes Kat’s head poked into the room that housed the elevator and she was quite confused. Looking around the room was filled with a random assortment of items simply thrown in the room with seemingly little care and everything was covered in a thick layer of dust. So thick that Kat was concerned about breathing in the air in the room, and Minor was already coughing. Swiftly grabbing Minor under her arms and wading through the junk towards the door she burst out into fresh mountain air. Slamming the door behind them Kat breathed in deeply while Minor kept coughing trying to get all the dust out of her lungs.

“What the hell was that, there was so much dust in that room I have to wonder if it wasn’t some kind of trap” said Kat

“I agree” Minor managed to get out between hacking coughs. Taking a moment to finally expel the last of the dust in their lungs Kat and Minor started to take a look at the scenery. They appeared to be in a mountainous region and could see the cliffs surrounding the clearing they were in. In all directions except forward where they saw a large single story house that expanded far off in either direction and presumably into the horizon as well. In the more immediate surroundings was an intricately cared for garden with a small river flowing through the centre. There were all sorts of plants Kat had never seen ranging from small purple flowers that looked a bit like dandelions to monstrously sized bamboo stalks in small groups of about three scattered around the garden.

“Well, I guess it’s time Minor. Let’s go meet your Grandma” said Kat. Minor nodded and made to follow behind Kat but as soon as they stepped onto the cobblestone path in front of them ice shot up from the ground and encapsulated them completely leaving only their eyes and nose exposed

*Well, at least this isn’t cold for whatever reason.* Thought Kat as she re-examined her surroundings. Looking over Kat found Minor in a similar state.

*So, do we just wait here till this ice melts? Or should we expect Minor’s Grandma to show up? And I mean, this does have to be Minor’s Grandma’s house right? Why else would that mural be here but at the same time why would you have it under a storage shed, and one that isn’t even maintained properly. I guess all that’s left is to wait for someone to show up… When the hell did she get hear.*

Kat’s eye widened at the woman now standing between her and Minor, panicking for just a moment before calming down completely.

If Shizuka and Chiharu could be set to look similar, then Chiharu and this lady were practically the same person down to the shade of hair. If someone had at this moment told Kat that the Queen stood before her she would find nothing amiss, except for the two extra tails that adorned this new arrivals back.

“Now, what shall I do with you thieves, I suppose I’ve been a bit to lenient in the past if you still had the gall to show up and try to steal from me. A little fox and a demon, a suppose you summoned something to help you carry off more of my valuables. Shame you got one with such scrawny arms. Little shits the lot of them, why I’m tempted to kill you both right here. Well, anything to say for yourselves?” said the woman

*Say anything, what nonsense are you spouting you have our mouths frozen shut.* Thought Kat with wide eyes. Minor was even more panicked, tears in her eyes struggling to move at all.

“Well, you both sure are quiet, aren’t you? What fox got your tongue” laughed the lady as if it was the funniest thing she’d ever heard.

“Ah, maybe killing you would be too boring, it’s not every day a demon tries to steal from me, so points for creativity perhaps? Strange that you look like a Succubus, I’d not known your kind enjoyed thievery though I suppose you likely thought yourself appropriately skilled in illusions or shadow magic anyway” said the lady. Kat tried to push her calming aura onto Minor but trying to curve it around the crazy lady in between them. Evidently Kat failed in this because the woman spoke up again.

“What sort of tricks are you trying to pull demon, you have a strange aura but not one strong enough to affect me. Did you think you could use it to scare me perhaps? Maybe try and break out of the ice first darling and I’ll take you seriously.” She said with a grin

*Ok, why doesn’t she recognise Minor, this has to be her Grandma, the resemblances is just too much for this to be someone else. What is going on here.*

“Ok, since I’m feeling generous, I’m going to melt the ice around your mouths, I’d like you to give me one reason each why I shouldn’t kill the Kitsune. The demon dies and gets banished either way, but I think it’s only fair I give you both a chance to speak” said the woman.

*Ok then, we need to think about this carefully, what can I say to convince her we aren’t thieves. Hopefully she knows demons can’t lie so that whatever I say will add weight to it. We just need to think for a moment and-* Kat’s thoughts were interrupted by Minor beginning to speak

“We are just here to see my Grandma” said Minor in between sniffles

“Bah, you think I’m going to take pity on you because you’re crying, think my memories so bad I don’t remember the faces of my Grandchildren” said the women

“I have no doubt contained within me that you are Shizuka’s Grandmother” said Kat.

The women whipped around to face Kat and swung her hand tearing through the ice catching Kat around the neck and lifting her up with one hand.

“Oh, think you can get around me with a little wordplay do you. Seems like you have true sight as well, quite rare in a demon like yourself but not the most surprising” said the woman

“Come on, nothing else to say dear? No more misleading statements to try and twist the truth to suit your convenience” said the woman.

Kat struggled in the lady’s grip flapping her wings to try and prevent some of the damage being done to her throat. Forcing air up into her mouth to struggle out a further replay Kat managed to point towards Minor and say “She is your Granddaughter”

The lady threw Kat lightly away onto the floor as she laughed. “Ha, I see some set up has gone into this joke of yours, so I’ll give you one more chance to speak demon, then I’ll rip your heart out myself”

*Shit, ok, what can I possibly say to get her to believe me. I’m pretty sure getting my heart ripped out isn’t going to be good for my health hmm.*

“My name is Kat, I refer to my companion as Minor, she is the daughter of Queen Chiharu Maemari, and Minor is the princess” said Kat clearly her throat already healed from the damage it sustained.

The woman took a step back in shock. Her eyes whipping from Kat to Minor and back again showing no signs of stopping. After thirty seconds of this her eyes settled on Kat again. “My Granddaughter doesn’t have red fur, it’s impossible, it can’t be done” but her voice was shaking, she had sensed something was very wrong with these thieve and knew that demons must speak the truth.

“Currently Haruka is in control, though she no longer enjoys that name. Something happened to Shizuru temporarily, we hope, and Minor has been in control ever since” said Kat.

The woman vanished and re-appeared behind Minor smashing the ice around her and pulling her into a hug as she began to cry. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry” whispered over and over again as she hugged the crying form of Minor.

Kat walked over towards them and slowly extended her calming aura over both of them. The woman glared at Kat sharply when the aura touched her but quickly turned away after she felt the effects. She sat there stroking Minor’s hair for a long time crying and muttering that she was sorry until Minor spoke up “It’s ok Grandma, I don’t blame you for what happened” said Minor.

“I was a fool, how could I ask you to trade you life for Shizuru’s, I’m a failure of a Grandmother, I should have saved you both, I shouldn’t have pushed that choice on you” said Grandma Maemari

“Grandma, I’m still here, Shizuru was always the one in control, something happened but we can explain that later.. I’m still here, it’s ok, you did save us both” said Minor as she stared at Kat begging her to increase the power of her aura with her eyes and she complied.