Oogway's Little Owl - Chapter 22

"Kitsune Eiko"

Spacebattles Thread | Ao3 Link

(Be kind; I'm still getting back into the swing of things with this one.)

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[Nagasaki Port]

Taylor’s first impression of Master Eiko was that she had a flair for the dramatic. Why did she feel the need to disguise herself if she was just going to reveal herself right away? Why the disguise at all, if they already knew to expect her? Why was she striking a pose now, for seemingly no reason?

With one hand on her chest and the other in the air over her head, Eiko pulled the robe off with one fluid movement and tossed it behind her. Underneath, she wore a red-and-white outfit with large pants and a golden ribbon over her shoulders. 

Taylor jerked back. “Wha--”

The discarded garment flipped inside out, revealing a vibrant pattern inside depicting the Rising Sun. It billowed out, forming a backdrop as Eiko entered a loose combat stance.

“Presenting the amazing, the beautiful, the voluptuous vulpine and one and only Master Fox, Kitsune Eiko! Bask in my glorious presence and know me!”

The Sun flag billowed behind her. Eiko’s ribbon hovered over her head flowing in an unfelt wind. Her tail puffed up until it looked nearly the size of her entire body.  Taylor blinked as she realized that the declarative music she could hear was actually happening, with the dog Minoru, looking exasperated, accompanying the tune with a wooden block and mallet.

Taylor stared. She couldn’t help it, what was she supposed to say? She glanced at Oogway, and found his shoulders shaking in silent amusement. She looked around at the port where several sailors and dockworkers had stopped what they were doing to watch the spectacle.

“Ah, Eiko, you haven’t changed one bit, have you?” he said, letting a chuckle slip out.

Minoru sighed. “If anything, she’s worse.”

Eiko slumped all at once, flag and ribbon collapsing. “Aw, Minoru, why are you so mean to me?” she whined.

The attendant huffed good-naturedly. “Apologies, mistress.”

Eiko’s mood pivoted back to cheerful and she clapped her hands. “Now, let’s get a good look at you.” 

The next thing Taylor knew, the disparate music in the air all resolved into a relaxed, bouncy song. She didn’t have much time to register that, because that was when Eiko grabbed her wing and pulled it to full extension.

“Ooh, lovely feathers, well-taken care of.”

Taylor pulled away. “Thank you? I try--hoo?!” She flailed as the fox grabbed a talon and pressed the center of her foot, reflexively bringing her talons to full extension. “How--”

Eiko pricked herself on a point and yiped, licking the bleeding finger. “Sharp! Owls have such gnarly claws, it’s ridiculous.” She stood up fully, bringing Taylor’s foot with her, and she squawked as she was flipped upside down. “So, what’s your name?”

“Put me down!”

“Strange name! Very good grasp on the language, though your accent is weird.”

Minoru slapped a hand against his muzzle. He crouched down to pick up the flag and start folding it.

Taylor grit her beak and twisted, lashing out with her free foot, forcing Eiko to drop her to avoid a faceful of talon. Completing the movement, she flapped her wings once. After a moment of weightlessness she was right side up on the ground and hopped back out of Eiko’s reach.

“My name,” she said tightly, “is Tailei.”

Eiko paused, then smirked. “Impressive recovery. I didn’t think you were high enough up to right yourself, but that’s birds for you.”

Taylor’s brow furrowed. “What, was that some kind of test?”

“Could be,” Eiko said. “And--”

Taylor tensed as the song turned sour. Less than a second later, the fox lurched forward, claws out. Without thinking, Taylor bent backwards, talons anchoring her. Her wings shot out and clapped Eiko’s ears, and then she slipped out from under her, intending to slide between her legs and grab her by the tail. What she would do then she didn’t know, because her brain was still catching up to her muscles, but it didn’t matter.

Eiko’s eyes followed all of that easily, and despite still being in the air, she managed to spin around and grab Taylor’s ankle. She never even grazed the tail’s fur.

They stared at each other. While she met her eyes, Tailei weighed her options. She didn’t think she was strong enough to pull out of the fox’s grip, but maybe if she twisted again--or maybe it would be best to just fly. Her wings were stronger than her legs, and if she could get into the air she’d have the advantage, not to mention that Eiko’s options would be much more limited. Wait, no, she’d just redirected herself in midair, could she fly? She’s a chi master, what can she actually do? Still, being in the air was probably her best goal…

Taylor’s wings twitched in anticipation. Eiko’s eyes narrowed, and then her face once more split into a grin.

“Oh, I like this new student of yours, Master.”

Oogway laughed happily, and Taylor relaxed. Eiko released her and she stepped back, straightening her clothes. 

“I’m very proud of her progress,” the old tortoise said.

“How long have you been teaching her? She’s young, so a few years?”

“One year,” Taylor said, standing up straight.

“Really? Well, now.” Eiko gave her a considering look, then clapped her on the back. “That’s enough pleasantries! Let me welcome you for real, now.” She bowed to them both, prompting Minoru to do the same. “Master, it’s wonderful to see you again. And Tailei, a pleasure to meet you. It’s been far too long since I met a sister of the Jade Palace.”

The edge bled out of her song, and Taylor smiled. “Maybe you should come visit, sometime. You could meet Tigress and Viper.”

Eiko’s eyes lit up. “Tigress, hm? Has the Palace changed much in the past century?”

Taylor’s eyes bulged.

“Oh, yes,” Oogway mused, rubbing his chin. “We updated the kitchen forty years ago, and replanted the ironwoods in the back garden.”

“Oooh, maybe I will visit then! I need a good sturdy staff, my last one broke a few years ago and I haven’t yet found a good wood to replace it.”

Minoru cleared his throat. “Mistress.”

“Hm? Oh, yes.” Eiko’s expression shifted to something more focused. “Minoru is correct. We should walk and talk.” She looked up, seemingly noticing their watchers for the first time. “Carry on, citizens!”

The dockworkers went about their business while Minoru led them away from the pier.

“Let’s talk about the reason I brought you here,” Eiko began. She glanced at Taylor and grimaced. “Um. Tailei, are you much skilled in dealing with monsters?”

“Everyone has to start somewhere,” Oogway answered before she could. “I believed that she could further her training here in Japan.”

Eiko nodded. “I suppose. She reminds me of a ninja clan I’ve had to deal with once or twice. She can certainly find ample opportunities to improve herself. But I don’t know if an apprentice is up to the task of this monster.”

“I think your letter called it a giant spider,” Taylor mentioned. “How giant are we talking?”

Eiko shuddered and pointed at a building as they passed. “If it curled up all its legs, it might fit inside there.”

Taylor pictured that in her head. “...Oh.”

“Indeed. But its size is immaterial,” Eiko added. “I wouldn’t be able to call myself the protector of Inari’s Temple if a mere giant beast could stop me.” She snorted and tossed her head. “No, the problem is that it’s mystical.”

Looking around and seeing the streets mostly empty, Eiko held up a glowing finger and traced a golden circle in the air.

Taylor and Oogway leaned in to inspect it. “Mm. Your control has improved,” Oogway noted. “You weren’t able to make it so small last time I saw you.”

“I’ve had lots of practice.”

Taylor stared at the circle intently. A bell-like note sounded off of it every couple seconds. “Pretty…”

“Thank you,” Eiko said cheerfully. “But as amazing as it is, the Jorogumo--wait, what are you doing?”

Taylor hummed, matching the ring’s note as she prodded it with her feather. It pulsed at her touch, and began spinning in place.

Eiko crossed her fingers and the ring of chi was extinguished. “What did you just do?” 

Taylor winced. “Sorry.”

“What was that humming?”

“I was just… mimicking the ring’s note.”

Eiko stared at her, uncomprehending.

“Tailei’s understanding of chi is tied closely with music, Master Fox,” Oogway explained, looking at the place where the ring had been.

“...huh. Well now. Well, well, well.” Eiko shook herself. “Maybe you’ll be able to pull your weight after all. That wasn’t entirely unlike what Jorogumo did. Yes, I can make this work.” She  let out a breath, then grinned at Taylor. “What else can you do?”

“I don’t know,” Taylor admitted. “That’s most of what I’m here to learn.” She performed the Jade Palace’s seal and bowed. “Will you teach me, Master Fox?”

“...” Eiko bowed back, then immediately abandoned ceremony to pull her into a hug. “Of course! What kind of master would I be if I didn’t help a sister student?”

“Mistress.”

They turned to see Minoru approaching, accompanied by a muscular horse wearing a red-and-white outfit similar to his own. The horse’s shirt had a caricature of a fox head stitched onto the sleeve.

“Minoru, did you go somewhere?”

The dog rolled his eyes. “Yes, Mistress. As you and your companions were occupied, I took it upon myself to find our carriage driver.”

The horse waved.

“Oh, excellent. Good work, Minoru.” Eiko turned to them. “We can continue talking on the way to the Temple.”

Taylor frowned, then her eyes widened. “Wait a minute, I think we forgot something. Where’s--”

“Your luggage is already taken care of, Miss Tailei,” Minoru assured her. “It’s already packed in the carriage.”

Taylor looked at Oogway, who shrugged. “When did you have the time to--”

“Minoru is very good at his job,” Eiko said, sounding smug.

“I am honored to be of service to our Protector,” was all he said.

“Oh, you’re going to love the Temple. I might have modeled it after the Jade Palace, just a little,” Eiko admitted. “But I gave my own spin on it, and of course the mikos had a lot of say in the structure as well.”

Taylor and her master followed them to where the carriage was parked, while Eiko gave them a crash course on her home and told stories about what she’d been up to since she last saw Oogway. It was fascinating stuff, with Taylor in particular paying attention to the more outlandish things. They’d make for good stories.

She hesitated as they entered the covered cart. It still felt like she was forgetting something, but she ultimately shook it off. It was probably nothing.

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“Ugh, that took way too long,” Fung complained as they made their way back to the pier. “Did they really need that much paper work just to make an arrest?”

“It’s important,” Michi assured him. “Yiro is a former soldier, and that complicates things.”

“I don’t see why.”

“Makes sense to me,” Gah-ri began. “He’s performed a service to the country in the past, so they probably need to weigh that against--”

“Shut up, Gary,” Fung snapped. “It felt like we were dealing with those pirates for three years!” He sighed, scratching himself with his halberd. “Thanks for guiding us back to the docks, squirrel. We’d’a got lost for sure.”

“It’s no problem,” Michi said, waving it away. “I’m going the same place you’re going after all! And here we are.”

Zhu stepped out in front as they approached the sea. He frowned. He squinted, holding a hand against the sun as he scanned the streets. “Um. Michi, is there more than one dock? I can’t see Master Oogway anywhere.”

The five of them looked. Oogway stood out, but he was nowhere to seen.

“That’s definitely the Once Fearsome,” Gah-ri muttered. “There’s the captain on the deck, right there.”

“Then where’s Oogway and Tailei?” Fung asked.

“And Master Eiko?” Michi added.

They stood in silence as a hollow feeling overtook them.

Jiang’s jaw slowly dropped. “...oh my gosh. They forgot about us.”

Fung’s eyes widened. “They…” He groaned. “Aw, maaaan!”