One-shot: Annoyed Rose
100 years ago
Demon World, Southern region
It was a tranquil day. However, the young kitsune was far from serene. Her mate was once more absent. “That foolish fox,” she muttered softly, fixing her gaze on the woods concealing her father's home. Her silver fur, adorned with a black-tipped tail, flicked slightly against the wooden floor beneath her.
Quietly, a male approached from behind, gently brushing his fingers against her left fox ear, which was silver, while her right ear was black. A hint of concern clouded his expression. “Rose, why don’t you take some time away for a bit?” he inquired gently.
Rose flinched slightly at his touch before looking up at him. “Father... where can I go? I’m only allowed at your place and mother’s...”
Her father offered her a warm smile. “Well, I do have a friend in a realm connected to this one.”
She blinked in surprise, then lowered her head, giggling softly. “So Raiko has friends besides mother?”
Raiko shot her a playful glare as he settled down beside her on her left. “Rose, don’t start…” He sighed lightly. “And yes, I have friends that Nyna isn’t aware of.” He added with a teasing grin.
She regarded him with a smirk. “So, who are these mysterious friends of yours?”
A sigh escaped him. “Father was asking if you’d like to visit Elyasia while we wait for news about your mate.”
Raiko and Rose turned to see Skye, a young silver-haired kitsune male who appeared slightly exasperated. He was one of Rose’s older brothers, protective and caring. He scrutinized the two kitsunes. “What’s going on?”
Rose glanced at their father, who sighed, then at her brother before rising to walk over to him. “I got that, brother.” She smiled softly at him. “But does Skye really want me to go to a place only father has visited?”
Everyone knew the answer; Skye was fiercely protective of his younger sister, especially given her unique appearance as a kitsune and her well-known mate’s notoriety. He was reluctant to let her venture anywhere alone.
“Yes. No one in Elyasia would recognize you, and you would be safe…”
She blinked, surprised, as their father shot them a stern look. “Skye, why are you okay with her going there?” Raiko queried, astonished that his son was siding with him.
Skye smiled subtly, concealing a smirk. “It’s a good place for her to be 'free' from her father and brothers,” he replied before bending down to hug Rose gently. “Plus, Sis, you might meet some new friends there…” he whispered to her.
Their father sighed and stood up. “I’ll notify Nyna and a friend. So, Rose, you have a week.”
She nodded, licking her brother’s cheek affectionately. “I’ll do my best…” she murmured to him before slipping out of his embrace and wandering into the house.
The young kitsune stepped out of her patrol and scanned the surroundings. Glancing down at the map her father had given her, she sighed. “Why did I let those two convince me to do this?” she murmured softly. Her long hair was tied back, and she wore a simple dark blue kimono. To avoid drawing attention, she kept her kitsune ears and tail hidden. After another look around, she felt a tug on her kimono.
Standing behind her was a young girl with short black hair and large blue eyes. “Where did you come from?” the child asked innocently.
Rose studied the little girl before sighing and kneeling down. “I’m from a realm connected to this one. My father sent me here,” she explained.
The girl blinked in surprise, then smiled brightly. “There are other realms connected to this one?” she asked eagerly.
The young kitsune let out another sigh. While she didn’t dislike children, they weren’t her favorite either. “Yes, there are.”
Just as the little girl opened her mouth to ask another question, she suddenly remembered something. “I’m sorry, but Soren is looking for me.” With that, the young girl dashed away.
Rose let out a soft sigh as she stood. “Alright then… now to find someone named Kira…”
“It’s Lady Kira, young kitsune.”
Startled, she spun around to see a lovely, youthful woman. Bowing her head slightly, Rose replied, “I’m sorry. My father didn’t mention that.”
Kira chuckled softly. “Raiko tends to forget titles, it seems. So you are his daughter, Rose?”
Rose nodded gently. “Yes, that’s me.”
Kira smiled warmly as she approached the young kitsune, examining her with an approving grin. “My, you’re as adorable as he described. But where are your ears and tail?”
“I’ve hidden them because I don’t like it when people stare at them…” the kitsune girl replied, muttering something under her breath about her father. She sensed that her father had more reasons for sending her here than just wanting her to stop waiting for her mate.
The older woman pouted slightly before smiling again. “I understand. I was merely curious to see their unique colors since your father mentioned them often in his letters.”
After a moment, Rose smiled faintly. “If you know a quiet spot, I’ll show you… but only if we’re alone…” she said softly.
Kira nodded and gestured toward a nearby castle. “We can go inside. I had a room prepared for you before your arrival.”
Rose took in her surroundings while Kira quietly observed from the door. She ran her fingers over the soft white bedding adorned with black rose patterns on the large bed. “Soft… and beautiful,” she murmured. She looked at the light-colored walls decorated with lovely pictures of various roses.
Lady Kira smiled gently. “I heard you developed an interest in roses after meeting your mate.”
“Father, right?”
“Exactly. I don’t know why, but he can’t stop talking about you. Even when he visits me, it’s always about you. Not that I mind; Mira enjoys hearing about you.”
Rose blinked and turned her gaze to Kira. “Who’s Mira?”
Kira smiled and walked over to sit on the bed. “You met her outside. She’s my youngest daughter.”
The young kitsune blinked, then sighed. “So she’s the one who tugged on my kimono… but who’s Soren?”
Kira thought for a moment. “Soren is someone very close to Mira—oddly closer than her own sister,” she replied with a light sigh. “From what I gather, he’s a mix of dragon and human.”
“A dragon half-breed… Is that uncommon in this land?”
Kira shook her head. “Not really, but his kind is. Why are you so curious?” she asked with a gentle smile.
“I’m not particularly… I just want to learn about this place since I’ll be here for a while.”
“I see. While you’re here, feel free to explore the library.”
Rose smiled softly. “Thank you.” After a moment of thought, she sighed. “Now, I’ll show you what my father truly appreciates about me…” she said quietly as her kitsune ears emerged from her black hair—the left one silver-furred and the right as dark as her hair. Her silver-furred tail with a black tip appeared soon after, gently wrapping around her left hand.
Kira blinked in astonishment, gazing at the young kitsune’s ears and tail. “How fascinating. It’s rare to see kitsunees with your unique fur colors, and I understand why you kept them hidden.”
Rose nodded slightly, her ears drooping against her head. “Yes… sadly, I’ve even hidden them from Kurama.”
“How lovely,” came a voice from behind her. Rose turned to see Mira standing by the partially opened door. A young boy with red eyes and black hair peered curiously at her.
“Mira, Soren, you two shouldn’t do that. Rose doesn’t like showing her ears and tail,” Kira said gently, smiling.
Rose felt her cheeks flush as if she were being called by her mate or father. That feeling faded when Mira approached and lightly touched the black tip of her tail.
“I’m sorry, Miss Rose… but I was told Mommy was in here… and your tail feels really soft.”
“It’s… fine…”
“Soren, could you show Rose to the library?” Kira asked the young boy. Soren nodded and looked up at Rose, who felt shy under Mira’s gaze.
Rose took in her surroundings while Kira quietly observed from the door. She ran her fingers over the soft white bedding adorned with black rose patterns on the large bed. “Soft… and beautiful,” she murmured. She looked at the light-colored walls decorated with lovely pictures of various roses.
Lady Kira smiled gently. “I heard you developed an interest in roses after meeting your mate.”
“Father, right?”
“Exactly. I don’t know why, but he can’t stop talking about you. Even when he visits me, it’s always about you. Not that I mind; Mira enjoys hearing about you.”
Rose blinked and turned her gaze to Kira. “Who’s Mira?”
Kira smiled and walked over to sit on the bed. “You met her outside. She’s my youngest daughter.”
The young kitsune blinked, then sighed. “So she’s the one who tugged on my kimono… but who’s Soren?”
Kira thought for a moment. “Soren is someone very close to Mira—oddly closer than her own sister,” she replied with a light sigh. “From what I gather, he’s a mix of dragon and human.”
“A dragon half-breed… Is that uncommon in this land?”
Kira shook her head. “Not really, but his kind is. Why are you so curious?” she asked with a gentle smile.
“I’m not particularly… I just want to learn about this place since I’ll be here for a while.”
“I see. While you’re here, feel free to explore the library.”
Rose smiled softly. “Thank you.” After a moment of thought, she sighed. “Now, I’ll show you what my father truly appreciates about me…” she said quietly as her kitsune ears emerged from her black hair—the left one silver-furred and the right as dark as her hair. Her silver-furred tail with a black tip appeared soon after, gently wrapping around her left hand.
Kira blinked in astonishment, gazing at the young kitsune’s ears and tail. “How fascinating. It’s rare to see kitsunees with your unique fur colors, and I understand why you kept them hidden.”
Rose nodded slightly, her ears drooping against her head. “Yes… sadly, I’ve even hidden them from Kurama.”
“How lovely,” came a voice from behind her. Rose turned to see Mira standing by the partially opened door. A young boy with red eyes and black hair peered curiously at her.
“Mira, Soren, you two shouldn’t do that. Rose doesn’t like showing her ears and tail,” Kira said gently, smiling.
Rose felt her cheeks flush as if she were being called by her mate or father. That feeling faded when Mira approached and lightly touched the black tip of her tail.
“I’m sorry, Miss Rose… but I was told Mommy was in here… and your tail feels really soft.”
“It’s… fine…”
“Soren, could you show Rose to the library?” Kira asked the young boy. Soren nodded and looked up at Rose, who felt shy under Mira’s gaze.
Revisit
The youthful princess reclined beneath a tree, softly humming a tune. Nearby, her fire demon, Heei, lay fast asleep. She hadn’t noticed anyone approach, and Heei seemed unfazed as well. It was a tranquil day, and Mira relished the outdoors.
“Oh my... Heei looks so serene,” a gentle voice remarked.
Mira turned and smiled. “Is that you, Miss Rose?”
The black-haired kitsune smiled back. “Yes, I came to see you since my dear mate is here too,” Rose replied. She reached out and lightly caressed the sleeping fire demon. “I’m sorry about Sinta.”
“It’s alright. I get updates about him, so I’m trying not to stress too much.”
“I doubt he intends to cause you worry. But once his mate finds out...”
The princess flashed a small smile. “I understand.”
Rose returned the smile, standing up and moving closer to the princess. “Still, that fox should stop making the adorable princess fret.”
“I know,” Mira replied, her smile warm.
The female kitsune gently patted the younger girl’s head with affection.
Mira hummed softly while leaning against the young fox. “How long will you stay this time?”
Rose pondered for a moment. “I’m not entirely sure.”
The two girls continued their conversation until Heei opened his red eyes and glared at them. “You two are too noisy...” he growled softly.
Mira blinked and glanced at him. “I’m sorry, Heei-kun.”
Rose turned and smiled. “Now, now, you know it’s good for the princess to laugh. Or would you prefer her to be sulking?”
The fire demon shot a glare at the fox while the princess blinked in surprise.
When no response came, Rose smirked and pulled Mira closer, hugging her softly. “I win.”
Mira giggled lightly as Heei sat up. “Girls...” he muttered, shaking his head slightly.
A/N: I had to edit this one-shot and I added a bit more detail to enhance the narrative. I hope you enjoy this expanded version, filled with more character interactions and deeper insights into their relationships! (used an AI to rewrite this... may use contentshake to add more details later.)