Morning light drifted softly through the shoji screens, illuminating the quiet room where Ren and Kai slept. Their breaths rose and fell in perfect rhythm, blankets pulled loosely across their bodies after the exhaustion of the previous night. Outside, cicadas sang lazily, hinting at a warm summer day.
Something soft and warm wriggled between them.
Kai shifted, frowning. "Ren… did you put a pillow between us?"
Ren groaned. "Why would I do that? You were hugging me like you wanted to fuse our souls."
A tiny, sleepy yawn echoed.
Both froze.
Slowly, together, they looked down.
Between them was a small fox with fluffy white fur, nine delicate tails curled like feathers, and round, sleepy eyes of crystalline silver. Its ears twitched as it nuzzled deeper between their chests.
There was a moment of silence.
Then—
"W-WHAT IS THAT?!" Ren choked.
Kai bolted upright. "A—A fox! Ren it's a fox! Why is there a fox— Wait, nine tails?!"
The fox blinked at them with innocent confusion, then curled into a ball and yawned again.
"K—Kiyomono?" Ren whispered.
The little fox's tail twitched.
Kai looked at Ren, stunned. "Your… your divine creature friend? The one we saw in the dream?"
Ren nodded slowly, still staring. "He… he said he lost his physical body. Maybe… maybe the heavens restored him?"
As if acknowledging, Kiyomono climbed onto Ren's lap, placing tiny paws on his chest. A soft glow shimmered around him — warm, familiar, ancient.
Kai let out a breath. "He really is Kiyomono."
Before Ren could process the miracle, a loud knock echoed.
"Ren! Breakfast!" Mika's voice came bright through the door. "Wake up properly today! Obon preparations are starting!"
Both Ren and Kai panicked.
Kai whisper-screamed, "Hide him! Or— or something!"
Ren grabbed the fox and stuffed him under the blanket.
Kiyomono let out a protesting "Mnn!" but stayed hidden.
Mika slid open the door.
She took one look at their messed-up hair, the blush on Kai's ears, and the chaotic bedding, and smirked. "Wow. You two really slept well, huh?"
Kai turned red. "N-Nothing happened!"
Mika arched a brow. "I didn't ask, but good to know."
Ren tried to look calm. "We'll come in five minutes."
"Mm-hm." Mika shrugged. "Don't take too long. Grandpa Shun is waiting."
The door closed.
Kai let out the breath he'd been holding. "Ren. Kiyomono is literally wiggling under the blanket."
Ren lifted the blanket.
The fox looked up, tongue sticking out slightly — purely adorable.
Kai melted instantly. "Okay… I can't even be mad."
They dressed quickly, Kiyomono perched on Ren's shoulder like a fluffy guardian spirit. When they stepped out, the entire house was filled with the sounds of festival morning—chopping vegetables, running water, clattering dishes.
Aki, Ren's mother, walked past the hallway and froze.
Her eyes widened.
"Th-that fox… Ren… is that—?"
Ren swallowed. "Mom… meet Kiyomono."
Aki covered her mouth with trembling hands. "The guardian spirit of our family… the one spoken of in our ancestral shrine texts…"
Shun, the grandfather, shuffled closer with careful steps. "Let me see… Let me see the guardian of five generations…"
Kiyomono leapt gently into Shun's arms.
The old man let out a soft gasp — a cry of joy.
"So you've returned… little protector."
In an instant, the whole family flocked around.
Haruto poked the fox's tail. "It's so fluffy!"
Aunt Kiro sniffled. "He's cuter than the legends!"
Uncle Shin kneeled. "Does he eat normal food? Do fox spirits like chicken?"
Mika scooped him up. "Forget chicken — look at this face! I want to kiss him!"
Kiyomono wagged his nine tails proudly, absolutely basking in the affection.
Kai whispered to Ren, "Your family is going to spoil him more than you."
Ren smiled. "He deserves it. He was alone for so long."
The warmth felt like a dream — all of them together, laughing, touching the divine creature who longed for family.
---
By afternoon, everyone was preparing for Obon. Ren stepped out wearing a deep blue yukata, patterned with white plum blossoms. His hair was tied loosely at the back, his neck exposed in a way that made Kai freeze mid-step.
Kai whispered, "Ren…"
Ren blinked. "Hm?"
"You look… I mean… I—" Kai swallowed. "Very, very beautiful."
Ren flushed. "You're not bad either…"
Kai was wearing a dark forest-green yukata, elegant and simple. When he approached, Ren's breath hitched—their sleeves brushed, and suddenly the space between them felt too warm.
"Kai… don't look at me like that," Ren whispered.
"Like what?"
"Like you want to untie my yukata."
Kai leaned closer. "But I do."
"Kai!"
Kai's hand grazed Ren's waist.
Ren shivered. "We're going to be late…"
Kai murmured against his ear, "Five minutes won't hurt."
Ren's breath faltered as Kai slowly slid his fingers along the fabric, tracing the knot.
"Kai—someone will— mmn…"
Kai kissed him, soft but burning, heat curling through their bodies. Ren held onto Kai's shoulders, yukata slipping slightly, exposing the pale skin of his collarbone.
"Kai… we should really— we should—ah…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
Five minutes did become longer.
When they finally composed themselves, both cheeks flushed, hair slightly tousled, they walked out hand-in-hand.
---
The Obon festival was alive with shimmering lanterns, glowing like floating stars. The village streets were filled with soft music, food stalls, and people in colorful yukata. Children ran with sparklers, elders prayed at the shrine, and incense drifted in gentle curls through the summer air.
"Obon really feels peaceful," Kai whispered.
Ren nodded. "It's when spirits return home. Maybe that's why Kiyomono appeared today."
They visited the shrine with the family. Aki lit incense, bowing deeply.
Ren and Kai did the same, their hands brushing again.
Shun explained softly, "Obon is not just a festival… It's a time when our ancestors watch over us. When lost souls find their way home."
Kai's gaze softened toward Ren.
"Maybe," he whispered, "we were lost… and found each other again."
Ren squeezed his hand.
Kiyomono trotted proudly beside them, wearing a tiny festival bell tied by Mika. Every time he moved, the bell chimed like celestial laughter.
They ate yakisoba, taiyaki, colorful shaved ice. Mika dragged Kai and Ren into photo booths, Haruto bought too many snacks, and Uncle Shin attempted to win a giant stuffed tanuki at ring toss—and failed repeatedly.
For a moment, Ren felt something he had never truly felt growing up:
Family.
Belonging.
Warmth.
Home.
---
By evening, they returned to the house exhausted and happy. Mika went to shower, Haruto collapsed on the sofa, Aki began preparing cold barley tea.
Kai and Ren slipped into Ren's room, Kiyomono padding behind them.
"Kiyomono?" Ren called as he changed out of his yukata. "You okay?"
The fox rummaged in a box near the closet, tails flicking in triumph as he pulled out an old, wooden photo frame.
"Hmm?" Kai leaned forward. "What did you—"
Kiyomono carried it gently to Ren.
Ren took the frame.
And froze.
Kai looked over his shoulder.
His breath stopped.
Inside the frame was an old painting—ancient, faded, drawn in the style of spiritual art from centuries ago.
One figure was a striking man with long silver hair and molten-gold eyes.
The other was a tall dragon-shaped deity with cerulean scales and a human form at his side.
Auren.
Zephyxion.
Ren whispered, "These… these are the same faces from my dreams…"
Kai's voice was barely a breath. "Ren… I've seen them too."
Their eyes slowly turned toward Kiyomono.
The fox stared back, all nine tails still, silver eyes deep with meaning—ancient, sorrowful, knowing.
Ren swallowed. "Kiyomono… why do you have this? Who are they to us?"
Kiyomono lowered his head, nudging the picture frame toward them as if urging them to remember.
The bell on his collar chimed softly.
A sound like destiny echoing.
The candle flickered.
Outside, a breeze swept through the shrine, rustling the sacred papers tied along the gates.
The past was no longer sleeping.
And neither were the gods who once lived within them.